The Socceroos are ready to protect rising star Nestory Irankunda as teams keep trying to get under the fiery prodigy's skin, says teammate Alessandro Circati.

Tempers flared late in Australia's 1-0 win over Canada, with coach Tony Popovic substituting match-winner Irankunda after the 19-year-old winger got caught up in an injury-time scuffle.

Wearing the captain's armband, with skipper Mat Ryan not selected, it was on Circati, barely 22 himself, to help calm the on-field tensions.

"I told the boys - specifically Nestor, because he was probably the most involved - to keep a cool head and, most importantly, not get sent off," Circati said.

"And then obviously the boss made the right decision in taking him off to possibly avoid that because there was a bit of heat and heads were starting

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