China's Shandong Luneng are looking to their AFC Champions League crunch match against Sydney FC to boost the fortunes of the club -- and its manager -- after disappointing domestic results.

The club, led by ex-Brazil coach Mano Menezes, is currently 12th in the 16-team Chinese Super League.

Menezes, who was hired by Shandong in December, acknowledged he was worried about his own job after Beijing Guoan sacked the Italian former Juventus and Japan coach Alberto Zaccheroni just five months after he was appointed.

But Menezes said he was focused on reaching the quarter-finals by defeating the Australian club in their Round of 16 second-leg clash in Sydney on Wednesday.

"Actually, I'm worried about that (job) but it's useless," he said through a translator at a press conference on Tuesday evening.

"So what we should do (is) just play the game tomorrow well."

Sydney FC, who are in the knock-out stages for the first time in the club's history, drew 1-1 with Shandong in the first leg in China last week.

Brazilian forward Diego Tardelli, who was rested in the team's draw against Henan Jianye at the weekend and netted Shandong's equaliser against Sydney, is expected to take to the field.

Some Chinese teams have been ready to plough millions of dollars into luring some of the world's top players and coaches to the Super League, but have had mixed fortunes in the regional Asian contest.

Holders Guangzhou Evergrande, coached by Brazil World Cup-winning coach Luiz Felipe Scolari, and Jiangsu Suning crashed out of the AFC Champions League group stages not long after smashing Asia's transfer record in hiring big names.

Football has also taken on political significance in China after President Xi Jinping launched a major push to make his country one of the sport's superpowers.

Menezes said the cash injection was key to getting better results for Chinese clubs but players must also be taught "tactics and techniques" to help them improve.

Sydney FC are hoping to make amends for their disappointing domestic showing in this season's A-League, which saw them fail to qualify for the finals series.

The harbourside club need a 0-0 draw to advance to the last eight.