Australia takes to the field in Moenchengladbach for the first time since the Asian Cup final defeat to Japan and Neill said it's a chance for the team to improve as a unit.

"This game is very important for Australia,'' Neill told the Sydney Morning Herald. "Our approach to it is crucial.

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“It might be a friendly for Germany but we're treating it as an opportunity to get together and to put together a good performance for a good result. Obviously we're a team that's learning from a new manager and we're all keen to impress.

''We do need to show we are going forward as a team and we have to look at putting our opposition under pressure and put shots in the box and not just have shots on goal. So, we have to advance and we have to continue to improve.

“We have the world at our feet but we have to continue to work hard and we have to capitalise on the good work that has been done. Now is not the time to get sloppy.''

Australia were thrashed 4-0 by Germany at last year's World Cup and Neill said the Socceroos would take a totally different approach into this game.

''Hindsight is a wonderful thing," Neill said. "I think we showed Germany too much respect … we should have put them under more pressure than we did.

''We won't defend like we did in the World Cup, and this isn't to disrespect the plan but we just didn't turn up on the night.

''We must throw a lot more pressure at them and we have to force the Germans to make decisions by putting them on the back foot a little."

Neill, 33, also revealed he believes the fitness program he undertook in the lead-up to the Asian Cup has helped him extend his career by three or four years, which may take him to the 2014 World Cup.

The Australia skipper along with his Galatasaray teammate Harry Kewell worked hard on a stringent strength and conditioning program with physiotherapist David Joyce in the build-up to the Qatar tournament.

Neill said: “I focused on making sure I was physically at my peak by taking on the advice and following a strength-and-fitness program developed by David Joyce, a young Australian guy we have living in Turkey with us. He's been great for my body.

"Last year, when I was playing, I felt maybe I was coming to the last year or two of top-level football, but now I feel as though I have three or four years left in my body.

''It has a nice spring about it, I have plenty of energy and I have the taste - and the hunger - to keep on going."