Degenek left Japanese club Yokohama F. Marinos to join Serbian powerhouse Red Star Belgrade, whom he supported as a child, in July.

A month later, Degenek remarkably helped Red Star qualify for the Champions League group stage for the first time since 1992.

Red Star were grouped with Paris Saint Germain, Liverpool and Napoli with the 24-year-old defender coming up against some of the world’s best attacking players such as Neymar, Kylian Mbappe, Dries Mertens and Mo Salah.

The Serbian champions drew 0-0 with Napoli at home on matchday one before a tough 6-1 loss away to the Parisians with Neymar netting a hat-trick.

“It can help,” Degenek said.

“The opposition are some of the top clubs in Europe, Paris, Liverpool.

“You see where you’re at, you see where they’re at. You see how they play.

“We try to implement things that they do in our training sessions.

“I try to look at what they do and bring it into training and work off that.

“It’s a good challenge playing against the world’s best players.”

The Sydney-raised talent added that he was living his dream playing in the Champions League only a few months after being part of Australia’s squad at a World Cup.

“It’s really a dream come true,” he said.

“It was very nice to be part of the squad to go to the World Cup, that’s one of my dreams.

“I didn’t play but I’ve still got time. Hopefully in the next World Cup I’ll be there and get some minutes.

“Club wise, the Champions League is the pinnacle, it’s something I’ve always dreamed about.

“Playing for Red Star, in front of my family, is a big dream come true for me.

“We’re going to try do our best in the Champions League. It’s obviously a tough group, but the Champions League is a highlight.”

Degenek is in camp with the Socceroos ahead of Tuesday morning’s friendly against Kuwait from 3:30am AEDT.