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Winger Craig Goodwin says a change in Socceroos coach can unnerve players ahead of new manager Tony Popovic's first game in charge.

The Socceroos' change in coach can unnverve players ahead of a crunch World Cup qualifier against China, winger Craig Goodwin says.

But Goodwin expects Tony Popovic's appointment to create a fresh mentality in the national team.

Popovic will lead Australia for the first time against China in a cup qualifier in Adelaide on Thursday night after replacing Graham Arnold, who quit on September 20.

"It's always, I guess, an interesting time and probably somewhat an unnerving time when there's a change in coach from a player's perspective because you never know what's going to happen," Goodwin told reporters on Monday.

"But it's something that I've been accustomed to now throughout my career, being a bit more experienced.

"Everyone just has to look at it as kind of a fresh start and a fresh perspective ... it's going to be fresh opportunities for players.

"You really have got to try and refocus and re-evaluate the individual effort that you're putting in and making sure that you're at the right level and that's going to happen over the next few days."

Arnold, who held the job since 2018, quit after two disappointing Australian results - a scoreless away draw in Indonesia and a shock 0-1 loss to Bahrain on the Gold Coast last month.

Those results to open the third phase of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup in Canada, Mexico and the United States jeopardise Australia's prospects of direct qualification.

"No one knew it was coming or expected it ... it's a bit of a sad time because it has been six years with Arnie in charge and we've achieved some amazing things together," Goodwin said.

"Sad to see that chapter end but this is football and this is what happens."

Australia sit in fifth spot in the six-nation group with just one point ahead of the home fixture against China and an away game against Japan on October 15.

China have yet to get a point in the current phase while Japan (six points) top the group.

The top two nations secure a spot at the '26 World Cup with the third-placed country pitched in another qualifying phase.

Popovic has little time to implement changes ahead of the two looming fixtures - the entire squad won't assemble in Adelaide until Wednesday - but Goodwin tipped an instant bounce.

"You can see he's a winner - he's a winner as a coach, his mentality," he said.

"If he can install that similar mindset within the group of that real winner mentality, that's going to help us.

"It's probably a difficult time for a coach to come in and really stamp his style of play and everything like that.

"I'm sure he has got the plan and everything set in stone and us as players, it's about just getting in, learning as quickly as possible and trying to implement that.

"We have a very good squad and good players and and very motivated players to obviously make up for what's happened in the last two games.

"And I think you'll see a very different mentality coming into these two games."