A full year of tough love from coach Tony Popovic has Western Sydney striker Tomi Juric feeling like a new player and ready to make the most of a huge Socceroos opportunity.

Juric could get the chance to test himself against some top-class defenders when Australia face Belgium in Liege on Thursday (Friday morning AEST).

The 23-year-old represented Australia at last year's East Asian Cup but his first call-up to a near-full strength Socceroos squad follows a breakout A-League season with the Wanderers and recent hot form in the Asian Champions League.

Juric has been touted as a potential long-term Socceroos striking option for some time and believes Popovic has helped take him to a new level this year.

"A year ago, I really thought I knew what it meant to train and what a footballer is meant to be," Juric told AAP.