Matthew Kemp knows he’s done all he can. Now it’s up to Socceroos coach Pim Verbeek to decide this week whether the Melbourne Victory defender is worthy of a debut international cap at the age of 29.

Kemp is a bolter, a “good news” story and a beacon of hope for those who think their dreams have passed them by because of age.

A superb two months in the A-League lifted Kemp from solid, dependable clubman to the fringe of a role in his country’s must-win Asian Cup clash with Kuwait in Kuwait City on Thursday morning (AEDT).

Kemp admits he thought international football had passed him by, and he’s trying hard not to think of what might be as he tests himself at the training camp in Dubai.

But there could even be a longshot World Cup opportunity should he get the nod to play Kuwait and do well, with left-sided defensive options thin on the ground heading towards South Africa.

“I don’t know what’s going through his (Verbeek’s) head but hopefully I’ve trained well and I’ll get a run,” Kemp told AAP from Dubai.

“Everybody here obviously wants to play and the intensity at training’s been incredible, it’s been a step up for me.

“He (Verbeek) has made it very clear what he expects and how he wants everybody to play in their position.

“Even within a few days, I know what is expected of me, so hopefully I can prove to him I can do a job for him.”

The notion of Kemp as a World Cup bolter is not as far-fetched as it may have sounded several months ago.

Australia’s best left-back Scott Chipperfield is currently three to four months away from recovering from an ankle ailment, while North Queensland’s Shane Stefanutto is also sidelined with a serious knee injury and won’t play again this A-League season.

Should they not regain fitness in time, it leaves Netherlands-based David Carney as the only standout left-sided defensive option.

Beyond that, Verbeek could resort to using a central defender like Aston Villa’s Shane Lowry or the versatile Luke Wilkshire or Rhys Williams if needed.

But should Verbeek decide on further left-sided insurance, Kemp, Adelaide United’s Scott Jamieson and Central Coast’s Dean Heffernan could all come into the reckoning.

Whoever starts against Kuwait would then have the front-running.

© AAP 2012