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SPO:Popovic's tough call on when to employ Socceroo weapons

Socceroos boss Tony Popovic has a wealth of talented attackers and a big decision to make on when to unleash them.

Australia's World Cup campaign kicks off on Saturday (Sunday AEST) against Turkey in Vancouver with places still very much up for grabs.

Popovic also has eight players aged 23 or under among 17 World Cup debutants in his squad.

It means balancing enthusiastic, youthful talent with players experienced on the World Cup stage - risk-taking with conservatism.

Nestory Irankunda looms as Popovic's biggest headache - in a good way.

The prodigiously talented 20-year-old Watford attacker shone as a starter against Switzerland but has more commonly been used as an impact substitute, tormenting heavy-legged defenders with his explosive style.

But now Irankunda has started to get to grips with the defensive side of the game, he looms as a weapon from the start.

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