But while he's enjoying watching young players make their mark with limited opportunities, that doesn't mean he'll be handing out caps or starts to emerging players.
Watford winger Irankunda, 19, and Randers striker Toure, 21, are tight friends and came through the ranks at Adelaide United before their departures for Europe.
Both showed what they could do off the bench in Friday night's 1-0 win over New Zealand in Canberra, in the first leg of the 'Soccer Ashes'.
When asked if the pair's connection was something he could work with, Popovic said: "Possibly."
"They've got a really good, close bond off the field, which I didn't know prior to camp, but I see the two of them always together and always in each other's company. So that's already a bond off the field," he said.
"The time that they had together on the field, you could see that they were trying to link up together and trying to combine.
"So that's maybe something we can see for the future, depending on how they progress, and you know, whether they're there or not will be determined. But yeah, we're always searching for that."
Popovic stressed he was trying to build more understanding between players generally, pointing to the likes of Jordan Bos, Connor Metcalfe and Alessandro Circati as examples of those still finding their feet in his system.
He then added of Irankunda and Toure: "But, yeah, I'd love that to be a combination for the future. And if it is that, and it's a real positive one, that would be great."
Popovic has made it clear players involved in World Cup qualification aren't guaranteed a ticket to the tournament itself, with the Socceroos boss casting the net wide.
But gaining a feel of where fresh faces sit doesn't necessarily mean they will have game time in Tuesday night's match at Auckland's Go Media Stadium.
"The point of this exercise was to bring young, talented, potential players for the future and see where they fit in. And we'll be happy either way," he said.
"We have learned a lot about them, regardless of who gets minutes in this game."
There are clearly no guarantees of a cap for untested Portsmouth midfielder Adrian Segecic, who was left on the bench on Friday, or striker Noah Botic, who was left out altogether.
"Coming to camp is the recognition for what you've done in your club," Popovic said of Segecic.
"But it's still very early stages in his club career, and he's been rewarded with a spot here with us, as many of the other players have.
"But that doesn't also necessarily equate to getting a cap.
"We're not going to go through the list and say, 'OK, these players are remaining now that haven't got a cap, and let's just put them in'.
"So it doesn't quite go that way. They have to be patient and and if the opportunity presents, I'm open to be giving all of them an opportunity, but we'll make those decisions tomorrow."
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