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Ajdin Hrustic has had a tough run since his magical free-kick against Japan three years ago but is ready to repeat his trick if called upon.

Few Socceroos can lay claim to having scored against Japan away.

Ajdin Hrustic has.

The playmaker curled in a world-class free kick in Saitama three years ago to level scores at 1-1 and give the Socceroos hope of an almighty upset.

A late Aziz Behich own goal scuppered that hope.

But Hrustic can hold onto that memory as Australia have another crack at their mission impossible: beating Japan on their deck, on Tuesday night.

"It's a goal I won't forget," Hrustic said. 

"Every free kick I score is always something that I kind of tuck into my pocket. I don't forget them. 

"We did lose 2-1 but it was something nice to experience.

"We played a very good game, and it was a great performance. 

"But unfortunately these things happen, where you go home without a result, but this time around, hopefully things will look different."

Not that Hrustic spends much time thinking about his individual moment of brilliance from 2021.

Instead, he wants to go three points better.

"The boss (Tony Popovic) has also made it clear - we're here to win," he said.

"And that's what you should focus on.

"I mean, you don't travel 10 hours to Japan to sit back and let them destroy you. 

"So we'll go out with our chest up and confident, especially after the important win against China. 

"What's happened has happened. It's the past, and now we look forward."

Things haven't gone to plan for Hrustic since then.

An ankle injury meant he had to make a late run to the Qatar World Cup.

Then he was effectively cast out of Italian club Hellas Verona.

The 28-year-old had to find confidence via a loan move at Dutch club Heracles, before joining Italian Serie B club Salernitana permanently.

He is happy now.

"A lot of the stuff people don't don't see from the outside, but my job is to pull on the green and gold shirt and perform," he said. 

"So when the time comes, I try to forget everything and enjoy myself on the park. 

"I use the football pitch as a place to enjoy myself, and to remind myself how hard it was to get here. So, hard work does pay off in the end."

The Socceroos surely know chances will be few and far between against Japan, who have won 20 of their past 22 games and are yet to concede in three qualifiers while scoring 14 goals.

"The higher up you play, the fewer chances you get, and you might only get one in a game, and you need to take it - it might be half a chance," Hrustic said.

And if there's another golden opportunity, Hrustic is ready to take it.

"If I'm on the pitch, I think everyone knows what I love doing, and that's playing football, enjoying myself," he said.

"And if an assist comes, or a goal, I'll take it. Why not?"