Tim Cahill refuses to consider an end-point to his celebrated Socceroos career.

As he embarks on an unprecedented fourth World Cup qualification campaign, Cahill artfully dodges questions about how long he can continue.

“Every player knows, regardless if you’re 20-years-old or 35 – it doesn’t take rocket science to work out whether you’re up for it or not,” Cahill said.

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“For me, it’s taking it as it comes.”

Cahill has no doubt he’s still up for it, starting with the Socceroos’ opening game on Tuesday in Kyrgyzstan of their qualification campaign for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

Cahill will be 39 by the time of the next World Cup but isn’t yet pondering joining elite company including Pele and Diego Maradona in featuring at four editions of soccer’s showpiece. Only three players have played in five cups.

“For me, it’s like if I stop and think too much, it will definitely catch up with me,” he said.

“At my stage of my career, I want to keep working and I have the appetite to still be involved.”

While coy about his international future, Cahill issued a blunt challenge to his younger Socceroos attackers: dare to take my spot in the team.

“I think ‘how do I create a problem in selection?’,” he said.

“I don’t need to start (on the pitch). But if someone is not going to take the opportunity and I get given it, then I’m going to grasp it.

“I feel experience will play a big factor in this qualifying campaign.”

Cahill, playing in China on a one-year contract, said there were two major influences in extending his international career: his pure love of the game and Socceroos coach Ange Postecoglou.

“Probably the biggest motivation is the boss,” he said of Postecoglou.

“If Ange had turned around before (the World Cup in) Brazil and said ‘sorry, you’re not up to it’, then what can you do? – you shake his hand and you wish them all the best and you get on with it.

“He has been a breath of fresh air for me purely because he hasn’t said I’m going to be a part of it. He says so long as you’re (playing) good and following the regime, you’re going to be a part of it.”

– AAP