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Sydney FC will start their A-League title defence with a very different side to the one that won last season's title.

Sydney FC coach Steve Corica isn't fussed by the pressure of defending an A-League title, as he prepares to unleash a very different looking side for their opening round game.

The Sky Blues side to play Adelaide United at Coopers Stadium on Friday contains only five of the team that started last season's grand final against Perth.

Aaron Calver, Siem de Jong and Joshua Brillante have all moved on and skipper Alex Brosque has retired.

Goalkeeper Andrew Redmayne and right back Rhyan Grant were both called up by Socceroos and former Sydney FC coach Graham Arnold for Thursday's World Cup qualifier against Nepal in Canberra.

A philosophical Corica sald losing players to the national team wasn't ideal but his squad were well prepared for Friday's game.

Sydney moved quickly to plug the holes left by their departing players, signing Socceroos defender Ryan McGowan plus three players attached to rival clubs last season - midfielders Alexander Baumjohann, Luke Brattan and forward Kosta Barbarouses.

All are expected to start on Friday along with goalkeeper Tom Heward-Belle, who will make his first A-League start for the club.

"It gives us a little bit of variety, the way we want to play," Corica said of his new recruits.

"Kosta has played as a winger before. We play with two strikers but it gives us opportunities to chop and change throughout the game," he said.

"Baumjohann and Brattan are two quality players on the ball and will create chances for us."

Corica wants former Wanderer Baumjohann to score, as well as create goals.

The classy German scored just three times in 20 games for Western Sydney last season.

"He said himself he didn't have a proper pre-season last year when he got to the Wanderers, he's had a great pre-season so far with us," Corica said.

"He's fit and I'm looking forward to him ripping it up if he can, because he's a quality player.

"He creates chances for other people, but we also want him to score goals as well."

Corica was confident his squad could handle the additional pressure of being the defending champions.

"There's always pressure at this club. I've known that from since I was a player here, as an assistant and now as a head coach," he said.

"I think once you do win the grand final there's always that added pressure but the boys expect that."