Wanderers ace Juric playing for his future in China

Western Sydney Wanderers' must-win AFC Champions League duel against Guangzhou Evergrande has become a make-or-break moment in the career of Australia striker Tomi Juric.

Western Sydney Wanderers' Socceroos striker is off contract at season's end (Getty) Source: Getty Images Asia Pacific

Having spurned a lucrative three-year offer from Shanghai Shenhua in January, Juric will have other interested parties from China watching, as well as several European clubs, and a convincing performance from the 23-year-old striker could prove decisive in making up any wavering minds as he seeks to nail down his next career move.

Out of contract at Wanderland and with no new deal on the table from the defending Asian champion, Juric – who has managed only four goals in 18 games this season – could well be making his last appearance for the club, if it fails to beat Evergrande and crashes out of the competition at the group stage.

Juric, who has played in four of Wanderers' five games in Group H, was rested on Saturday night as Tony Popovic's side rounded off a disappointing domestic season with a 2-1 home loss against Perth Glory.

But he is likely to be back to spearhead the Wanderers attack on Tuesday week as it seeks to spring a shock in China by eclipsing group winner Guangzhou, which won 3-2 Pirek Stadium on Match Day 1 back in February.

To have any hope of progressing, the Wanderers also need the night's other match between Kashima Antlers and FC Seoul to end in a draw.

Juric, who set up Australia's winner for James Troisi against Korea Republic in January's final of the AFC Asian Cup 2015 at ANZ Stadium, garnered his 12th cap for Australia off the bench in last month's 0-0 draw with FYR Macedonia in Skopje.

He has at least two firm offers from Europe on the table but is holding out for the best available deal.

While he stands on the precipice of an A-League exit – with Europe the most likely destination – it is understood that striker Kerem Bulut is inching towards inking a one-year extension to the short-term Wanderers deal that saw him arrive in January - after largely unproductive stints with Turkish sides Akhisar Belediyespor and then on loan at Karsıyaka S.K.

With five goals in eight appearances, Bulut, 23, has become a cult figure among Wanderers fans.

He has been linked with moves to Belgium and Switzerland, or even back to Turkey, amid claims he is unwilling to accept Wanderers' terms.

However, indications are that Bulut – who feels indebted to Popovic for reviving his stalled career – is more concerned with whether the coach will be at Pirtek Stadium next season, rather than simply how much money is on offer for him.

Popovic - briefly linked with Crystal Palace before Alan Pardew took the reins to spectacular effect after the exit of Neil Warnock - is committed to remaining with Western Sydney after signing a five-year contract to become the club's inaugural coach in 2012.