Coach Graham Arnold will hope the Socceroos emerge from playing on a "dangerous" pitch in Bangladesh unscathed ahead of a tight turnaround to their World Cup qualifier against Palestine in Perth.
But he will take heart from striker Kusini Yengi seizing his moment as he presses his case to lead the line full-time.
The Socceroos scrapped out a 2-0 win over Bangladesh in sweltering conditions on a shabby, waterlogged pitch at the Bashundhara Kings Arena on Thursday.
"The pitch? Terrible. It's unacceptable," Arnold said.
"Because we talk about player welfare. And you're putting players on a field that players can get injured.
"And it's no shock to me that five or six players from Bangladesh went down with cramping, having cramps in calf muscles and hamstrings because that field is not good. I'm being honest … the field was dangerous.
"I'm not passing responsibility. That was a field that we only won 2-0, we had the chances to score five, six, seven.
"But some of the tackles, potential injuries was stressing me out last night."
Yengi didn't hold back.
"The grass is too long, there's too much water, it's too muddy, it's patchy, the ball holds up, it's a really soft surface," he said.
"So, when we're running for the ball, when both teams are contesting for the ball, it's easy to slip and accidentally tackle someone, which you saw plenty of times out here.
"When it's a soft pitch, your muscles have to work a lot harder and that's the reason why you see so many people go down with cramps and things like that.
"So the surface is dangerous, not (just) for us, but for everyone and it's difficult to play the ball on."
Ajdin Hrustic's deflected long-range strike, later ruled an own goal, in the 29th minute and Yengi's header in the 62nd proved the difference.
Portsmouth striker Yengi's goal — where the 25-year-old leapt and contorted his body to nod home a quality cross from Jordy Bos — underlined his quality.
"He's the first to say that he hasn't played for a good six weeks after Portsmouth won the league," Arnold said.
"So he's a little bit probably rusty and obviously the fitness levels weren't as high as they normally are.
"But look, overall, it was a good game to get him started back into and I'm very happy with him."
The Socceroos were due to fly to Perth overnight ahead of Tuesday night's game, when changes are on the cards — including starts for local centre backs Alessandro Circati and Cameron Burgess.
They are confident Hrustic has avoided injury after he hobbled off early in the second half following two physical challenges.
World No.24 Australia are top of group I and into the next round of qualifying.
But if they win against Palestine, and world No.23 South Korea lose or draw against China, they could leapfrog South Korea in the rankings and ensure better seeding for the next draw.
Palestine and Lebanon played out a 0-0 draw in Doha in the early hours of Friday morning (AEST).
Savouring his first taste of international football, Nestory Irankunda already has his sights set on working to make his next one even better.
And he's confident a first Socceroos goal isn't far off either.
The prodigiously talented 18-year-old winger made his Socceroos debut with an unexpected start in the clash with Bangladesh.
In steamy conditions, Irankunda passed to Hrustic for the midfielder's heavily deflected opening goal.
The Bayern Munich-bound winger showed flashes of his brilliance but was otherwise relatively quiet.
"Could've done better with my performance," he said.
"But I'm really proud to be capped for the nation and it's a dream come true for me."
Irankunda played on the right and was at his best when he managed to get in behind the Bangladesh defence.
"That was the instructions from the coaches. I reckon it was just my decision-making that kind of let me (down)," he said.
"But I did do the right thing sometimes.
"Obviously there's still space for improvement and hopefully I improve soon."
While Irankunda was modest about his performance, coach Arnold was delighted with how the teenager fared on debut.
"Nestor was very good," he said.
"He's obviously got a lot to learn and a long way to go. But it was great to see him on the pitch."
Irankunda scored eight goals and notched six assists for Adelaide United last season.
In his national team debut, he scuffed one shot just wide of the post and skewed another off target after a lovely dance into the box — in warning signs of the goal scoring prowess that could yet come.
"Wow. Yeah I'm really happy with that," he said.
"I've just got to keep working and the reward will come.
"Hopefully I'll get a goal and hopefully many more as well."
Irankunda has soaked up the experience of his first full involvement with the Socceroos, after being called up as a train-on player in March 2023.
"I've learned a lot, to be honest and I can't really think of most of it right now but it's been a lot," he said.
"It's not my first time in camp, obviously it's the second time.
"Every time you come in, you learn something new.
"It's really different to club football and I'm really happy to be here with all the older boys."
AAP
Sports content to make you think... or allow you not to. A newsletter delivered each Saturday.