Sydney FC head into the semi-final of the FFA Cup against South Melbourne looking to emulate last season’s campaign when they made the final.

However, this term the Sky Blues are looking to go one further and win the competition after losing to Melbourne City in the final.

While winning back to back premierships and grand finals is the main agenda, Brillante said the FFA Cup trophy is the first step in topping last season’s history breaking campaign.

“It’s great motivation for us doing so well last season,” he said speaking exclusively to FourFourTwo.

 “We expect to win our games and expect to win everything again this year. On top of that we have the FFA Cup which we’re on track to bring home as well.

"Also, the Asian Champions League so there is plenty there for us to improve on. For us to step forward for the club is to bring home more silverware.”

Last weekend Sydney kick started their campaign to retain their A-League title with a hard fought 1-0 win over championship contenders Melbourne Victory and Brillante concedes that doing the double again will be challenging.

“For sure, it’s difficult,” he said. “No one has done it before. It’s another thing that we have as a goal for us. Back to back – no one has done it.

"To be able to add that to another piece of history for the club is something we’re striving for. It comes down to your day to day work at training.

"If you’re doing all the right things at training like we are. All the small little things added together make the difference when it comes down to performance on the pitch.

“Obviously, you can’t be thinking too far ahead. You’ve just got to think game by game and week by week and to make sure we’re putting in the work at training.

"Like last year the performances and results will follow.”

With Sydney keeping most of the personal that took the A-League by storm, this term the Sky Blues will have to deal with being a known entity and having a target on their back.

But Brillante doesn’t believe any of those factors will affect Sydney’s title winning aspirations.

“Last season, teams thought they had worked us out but they still weren’t able to beat us and I don’t think they will this season because we have too much quality,” said the 24-year-old.

“Whenever teams thought they have worked us out, we were able to adapt and change. We had the physicality and mentality and the quality to be able to finish off games and that’s important.

“We also prefer to have a big target on our back, to be the team that sets the standards and every team wanting to be you.

"You don’t want to be one of those teams that’s trying to beat the best team.

“You want to be the best team that’s winning and the team that the others are trying to beat and that a great thing to have.”