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It will take moments of quality for the Socceroos to get a result against the odds against Japan, but Riley McGree believes he can bring that.

Riley McGree is back on his feet and ready to put Japan's defenders back on their heels.

The Middlesbrough man has overcome a torrid injury run in time to help the Socceroos revive their World Cup qualification campaign.

After missing Graham Arnold's final two games against Bahrain and Indonesia through injury, McGree came off the bench at half-time against China last week, with scores locked at 1-1.

McGree, 25, then played a crucial role in unlocking China's defence to help deliver a 3-1 victory.

Few current Socceroos have the combination of vision, speed and skill that can open up a defence like McGree.

The South Australian would love to start Tuesday night's blockbuster against Group C leaders Japan in Saitama - and he's ready to take his chances.

"That's what a lot of my game is about. I want to be positive. I want to play forward. I want to attack the goal. I want to create chances for myself and other people," he said.

"When I think over my career, I probably haven't done as much as I wanted to. You look at stats and numbers and goals and assists and all that, I probably haven't got as many as I want to. 

"But coming back from that, stripping it back a little bit, the thing that I focus on is just trying to be in those positions and trying to create those chances, and I think naturally, hopefully they can come."

Playing as effectively an inverted winger suits McGree, given he plays that role at club level.

"(I) live in the pocket a little bit and make forward runs and try and threaten their back line and keep them guessing on what to do," he said.

"Then if I don't get the ball, then I allow space for others to get the ball and make things happen, but if I do get the ball, then I'm in a position to create or score."

Most importantly, he's just happy to be playing, after a debilitating run with foot injuries last year.

"Early in my career, I didn't have really many injuries at all, and they all kind of came at once," McGree said.

"It's just about riding the waves, the emotional waves, and taking it day by day, step by step, hour by hour.

"And then just trying to get my body the best I can and give myself the best opportunity to be able to perform and be healthy.''

McGree recently signed a four-year contract extension with second-tier English outfit Middlesbrough and is determined to take the club to the Premier League.

"Feeling very good, feeling positive," he said.

"You want to play the highest possible level and for me in England, that's obviously where it is. 

"So I'm working day by day, hour by hour to give myself the best opportunity to get that."

But first, Japan.