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The A-League players are definitely good enough for Pim Verbeek, insists Griffiths.
That’s the opinion of the Newcastle Jets player, after he attendend the training camp conducted by the newly-appointed Socceroos coach in Sydney.
Australia kick off their World Cup qualifying campaign in Melbourne, where they will take on Qatar on February 6.
So far, the Dutchman has indicated he’s yet to make up his mind whether the domestic-based players are good enough to play against Qatar.
Griffiths, however, disagrees with Verbeek’s assessment of the A-League players. Instead, he is confident that they will rise up to the occasion if they’re given an opportunity.
"I believe we have the right mix of players here to do the job," said Griffiths.
"I am not saying Qatar is a bad team.
"But when you are talking about players like Craig Moore, John Aloisi and Archie Thompson there's a lot of experience there. Maybe you might need a couple of players from Europe to balance it out.
"It makes me laugh though when I hear we (Australian-based players) are not good enough.
"You go back to when Australia played Nigeria in London last year and the best two players on the field that day were both A-League players.
"I am referring to Nicky Carle and David Carney."
Verbeek also added that the purpose of the training camp is to allow him to observe the A-League before he makes an eventual decision over the A-League or Europe-based Socceroos.
The A-League topscorer, though, believes the local-based players are capable of doing well for Verbeek.
"What's the point of looking at us if he doesn't think we good enough?" said Griffiths.
"I think the standard of the A-League is even better. With some of the ex-Socceroos coming home they have inspired the players around them and certainly help lift the profile of the game in Australia.
"You only have to see the way they prepare before a game. It rubs off on the other players."
Meanwhile, the striker could seal a loan deal with former Sydney FC coach Pierre Littbarski's Japanese second division club Avispa Fukuoka.
"It a possibility for a couple of months (after the A-League finishes). Both parties haver agreed. It's mainly to keep my body ticking over," he said

source:goal.com