By Anna Harrington in Vancouver

Young, exuberant and with talent to burn, a new-look Socceroos are ready for their own chance to shock the world.

Australia will kick off their World Cup campaign against Turkey on Saturday night (Sunday afternoon AEST) at Vancouver’s BC Place.

The Socceroos are underdogs against the world No.22, whose captain Hakan Calhanoglu only on Friday said he expected Turkey to dominate as they are “more talented”.

But Jackson Irvine believes there’s no ceiling on this group, with 17 debutants and eight players under 23.

Attackers Nestory Irankunda, Mohamed Toure and Cristian Volpato are dynamic and Paul Okon-Engstler adds midfield drive.

Defender Alessandro Circati could be anything while 18-year-old centre-back Lucas Herrington is already attracting attention from Barcelona.

“The level of hype around this group has probably never been (this high). In my 10 to 12 years, I’ve never experienced what Mo and Nestor and Ale are probably having now,” midfielder Jackson Irvine told AAP.

“But they’ve got that because what their ceiling is, and how high they can go, and what they’re doing already compared to where it can lead them, it is so exciting.

“If you weren’t excited as an Australian football fan, you’d be getting it all wrong.

“It’s the time to be excited.”

Coach Tony Popovic will carefully balance that youthful enthusiasm with experience from the likes of Irvine, Harry Souttar and Mathew Leckie.

“We’ve seen what the youngsters can do, and we’ve also seen what experienced players with maturity and understanding what it takes at the highest level can offer, and we’re just trying to get that balance right,” Popovic said.

Midfielders Irvine and Aiden O’Neill will need to take control and dictate terms from the beginning.

Against Mexico and Switzerland, Australia were dominated until the first drinks break, conceded early then fought their way into the game.

“It’s obviously something we’ve spoken about, improving from the start,” O’Neill said.

“I need to take more charge in that, in terms of dominating the ball from the get go. It’s something that I’m gonna try to implement.”

Popovic will become the first Australian to both play and coach at a World Cup, having featured for the Socceroos in 2006.”I know tomorrow will be a special moment when that national anthem is playing, and then I’m sure after that I’ll be present and in the moment and ready to support the team and help the team any way I can,” Popovic said.

There are expected to be thousands of Australian fans in the stands.

“I hope they’ll be proud after the game’s initial 20 minutes are over,” Popovic said.

“And they’ll see an Australian team that has once again shown what they can do in football on the world stage.”

The United States already beat Paraguay 4-1 in the Group D opener.