Melbourne City brought the fire to the FFA Cup final but should think twice if they expect to physically dominate Sydney FC in Sky Blue territory, Graham Arnold says.
FFA Cup champions City looked to outmuscle the visitors at AAMI Park last Wednesday, with an early Luke Brattan challenge on FC's Michael Zullo setting the tone and angering Sydney's bench.
Zullo was still sporting a nasty bruise at training a week after the encounter.
Sydney FC coach Arnold welcomed the prospect of a similar level of intensity when the sides meet in Friday's top-of-the table A-League clash.
But he warned the Victorians wouldn't have it all their own way in the fight for territory in the hostile surroundings of Sydney's ANZ Stadium.
"If that's what it's got to be, it's got to be," Arnold told reporters on Wednesday.
"It was feisty at times, but that's football.
"When you go on the pitch, it's about dominating and owning every blade of grass on the field."
League-leaders Sydney remain undefeated a third of the way through the season and racked up a 2-0 victory over battlers Newcastle Jets last weekend.
A win on Friday would give them a nine-point buffer atop of the A-League after City's recent draw with Brisbane.
Arnold said it was "way too early" to call the match a possible grand final preview but the clash would bring out something special in his team, and a more determined showing than their FFA Cup final performance.
"I expect our performance will be the best of the season," he said.
"Our final pass wasn't at the level it should have been [in the FFA Cup final].
"We played a different style that game. It was a one-off final. We went for it more and we left the game a little bit more open than what we normally would."
The Sky Blues face a few selection issues ahead of the clash, with marquees Bobo and Filip Holosko out of the starting side against the Jets after struggling to maintain their strong early-season form.
First-time starter Milos Dimitrijevic was arguably their strongest performer despite having played just 12 minutes this season, while skipper Alex Brosque, David Carney and youngster George Blackwood led the attack.
"I've got some good headaches and some decisions to make," Arnold said.
"I was so proud of the boys who came in last week who hadn't played for quite a while. Everyone's performing at the moment."