Reprieved Central Coast Mariners goalkeeper Danny Vukovic has been selected in Graham Arnold’s 17-man Olyroos squad for a pre-Beijing training camp in Townsville next week.

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While he won’t be eligible to play until after July 28, Vukovic will rejoin the Australian under-23 squad for the eight-day camp from Thursday after having his nine-month ban for striking a referee amended so he can take part in the Beijing Olympics.

Arnold has also named Perth Glory custodian Tando Velaphi, who impressed in the Olyroos’ 1-1 draw with Mexico last month, so Vukovic is no certainty to line up for Australia, despite having played in all 14 Olympic qualifiers.

Shortly after the eight-day camp in North Queensland, the Olyroos will travel to Malaysia to compete at the intercontinental under-23 football championship against fellow Olympic participants Argentina and Nigeria, along with Croatia, Ghana, Iraq, Ireland and Malaysia.

Vukovic will be unavailable for the warm-up tournament as well as several other friendlies and will not be able to play until Australia’s first Olympic match against Serbia in Shanghai on August 7, if selected.

The 23-year-old’s extended on-field absence could provide an opportunity for Velaphi to impress coach Arnold, who said the Townsville camp would be the last chance for some squad members to shine.

“For some players, it will be the last opportunity to make a claim for a place in the final squad that will be selected to compete at the Olympics,” Arnold said.

The Townsville training venue was selected by Arnold because of the similarity in climate to Malaysia and also to simulate the conditions the team will experience in Beijing in August.

“We are expecting the conditions in Malaysia and China to be around 30 degrees with 80 per cent humidity,” said Arnold.

“Currently the Townsville climate is very similar to those conditions and it will give the players an opportunity to acclimatise and prepare themselves for the next three months leading into the Olympic Games.

“With the exception of the Melbourne Victory and Adelaide United players, most of the players are just returning from their post A-League season break and a camp like this is important for them to re-establish match fitness and focus.”

Olyroos squad: Nigel Boogaard (Central Coast Mariners), Mark Bridge (Sydney FC), Adam D’Apuzzo (Newcastle Jets), Tarek Elrich (Newcastle Jets), Troy Hearfield (Wellington Phoenix), Jason Hoffman (Newcastle Jets), James Holland (Newcastle Jets), Mark Milligan (Uncontracted), Tahj Minniecon (Queensland Roar), Stuart Musialik (Sydney FC), Nikita Rukavysta (Perth Glory), Matt Simon (Central Coast Mariners), Nikolai Topor-Stanley (Perth Glory), Tando Velaphi (Perth Glory), Danny Vukovic (Central Coast Mariners), Ruben Zadkovich (Derby – England), Michael Zullo (Queensland Roar).

© AAP 2012

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