Football
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Graham Arnold wants Sydney FC to keep momentum high in A-League

Socceroos Rhyan Grant and Danny Vukovic will slot straight back into their starting roles when A-League premiers Sydney FC go all out to beat Melbourne City and eclipse the record for most wins in a season.

But Dutch centre-back Jordy Buijs is touch and go after coming off with quad tightness an hour into last week's 3-0 thumping of the Perth Glory.

The Premiers' Plate is already Sydney's with three rounds to go, a feat coach Graham Arnold believes is under-valued in an Australian competition featuring a finals series and grand final.

With that particular target out of the way, and the previous points record (57) for a 27-game season surpassed, objectives have again been refined.

Now the championship looms large, as does Brisbane's all-time points record of 65 in a 30-game campaign, and the mark for most victories.

"We're sitting here today on 18 wins. When we win on Saturday it'll be history again with 19 wins," Arnold said.

"While we're in this position we want to set as many records as possible."

Arnold's expectation is that Sydney will indeed defeat City, who lag 23 points behind despite sitting in third.

And despite having the luxurious option of resting key players for the all-important play-offs, Arnold confirmed his regular XI will take to Allianz Stadium.

"We'll play our best team available," he said.

"I've never really believed in rotating too much, momentum is key.

"Players like minutes and consistency.

"Let's not forget after round 27 we have a weekend off, and if I start resting players now then they could end up with several weeks off.

"Is that the proper preparation going into the finals?"

First-choice right-back Grant and goalkeeper Vukovic are back from international duty for the Socceroos' crunch World Cup qualifiers and trained with the squad yesterday.

The only question mark is Buijs, who is struggling with fitness issues. Seb Ryall is still a week off returning from a hamstring injury but Aaron Calver is ready to slot in if need be.

"Jordy is touch and go," Arnold said.

"It wasn't really an injury, it was just more stiffness I think from his first experience of that long flight from Sydney to Perth.

"He felt tightening up in his quad, but he's fine."

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