There have been significant changes to the playing roster since the 3-0 grand final defeat to Melbourne Victory - most notably the departures of forwards Marc Janko and Bernie Ibini and defender Nikola Petkovic and the impending departure of midfielder Terry Antonis.

Several players who missed most of last season through injury were released. They included veterans Sasa Ognenovski (defence) and midfielder Nicky Carle (midfield), as well as young forward Corey Gameiro.

But another player who missed most of last season because of a major knee injury - midfielder Ali Abbas - remains at the club and is expected to be a force again once he has fully recovered.

And there have been several key signings from elsewhere in the A-League and overseas that Jurman points to as being crucial to Sydney's upcoming campaign.

They are Slovakian forward Filip Holosko, Serbian midfielder Milos Ninkovic, and Andrew Hoole, the young star from Newcastle Jets who can play in the midfield or forward line.

Plus, Sydney coach Graham Arnold has added two players he used to coach at Central Coast Mariners - defender Zac Anderson and striker Matt Simon. The pair are not there just to add depth to cover injuries. They are expected to compete for places in the match-day squad.

And, very importantly, Milos Dimitrijevic, the Serbian midfielder who starred for Sydney last season but appeared to be not returning after initial contract negotiations were unsuccessful, recently did a new deal with the club after all.

Janko was the competition's leading goal-scorer last season, but the second-highest all-time scorer in the A-League - Shane Smeltz - is aiming to become a regular starter again after mostly playing off the bench last season for Sydney and still scoring plenty of goals.

Brandon O'Neill, a defensive midfielder or central defender, and left-back Riley Woodcock have also joined the squad - both from Perth Glory.

Jurman told The World Game that Holosko and Ninkovic were fitting in very well at training after recently joining the squad.

"They look like great players," Jurman said.

"It's a bit hard to tell everything about them in the couple of weeks they've been here, but we're getting used to their individual styles and they're trying to get used to the way 'Arnie' wants us to play as a team.

"It's been really good so far. They're great guys and they look like they're going to help the team out a lot. They look to be very hungry and very professional players.

"They've both had good careers and I'm sure they'll soon show Sydney fans and football in Australia the potential they have to make their mark here as well."

Jurman said Arnold had proved himself over and over again - first at the Mariners and then at Sydney - when it came to recruiting the right sort of player.

"Arnie has been very good at that in the past and I'm sure he put a lot of work into it this time as well," he said.

"We've got a great squad he has put together and I think when we get some games together we'll be playing some great football and hopefully getting some great results.

"I believe we had a great team last season, but after losing some of those players I think Arnie's done a great job with the players he has brought in and I think our squad overall is a lot stronger.

"Some players might be away on international duty or Olyroos duty at times, but I think we've got the depth to fill in if needed. We've got a lot of young players as well and they're all able to step up. It's a great squad that we've got here."

Sydney is gearing up to play Adelaide United in a round of 16 FFA Cup match at Coopers Stadium on Wednesday, 26 August.

Victory is also through to the round of 16 and will play Rockdale City Suns at Jubilee Oval, Kogarah, on Tuesday, 1 September.

The A-League champion lost midfielder Mark Milligan from last season, but signed star goalkeeper Danny Vukovic from Perth and has also promoted a couple of promising young players.

"Yeah, they've got a great team, you saw that last season, but I think we've got a great squad as well," Jurman said.

"We definitely want to be challenging them for the trophies at the end of the season, that's for sure."