The Western Australian NPL outfit are massive underdogs when they host big-spending City at Dorrien Gardens in Perth.

City touched down in Perth on Monday with the likes of Fornaroli and Thomas Sorensen as well as new recruits Fernando Brandan and Luke Brattan present.

Only Corey Gameiro and Neil Kilkenny are unavailable to City boss John van ‘t Schip, making it a massive challenge for Athena, but Grostate wouldn’t have it any other way.

“I heard they’ve landed now and Sorensen and Fornaroli is here, so hopefully they’re all playing,” Grostate told FourFourTwo.

“If you’re going to play, you want to play the best, not a second string team.

“People said to me ‘it’s sad you’ve drawn the biggest club or the most expensive club in Australia’, but we looked at it the other way.

“If you’re going to play against someone big, why not make it the biggest.

“That’s how we look at it and what will be will be on the night.”

Grostate also said the conditions at Dorrien Gardens wouldn’t suit City who are used to pristine pitches.

“It’s a smaller pitch and it’s bumpy which they won’t be used to,” Grostate said.

“They’re used to playing on billiard tables at their training ground.

“It’s going to be a bit windy, bumpy and it’s going to be tight and compact. You just never know.”

Grostate is well known in WA football circles, being the uncle to Perth Glory’s Rhys and Aryn Williams, along with Ryan who is currently playing in England with Barnsley.

His nephews will be present for Tuesday’s game, like they were for Athena training on Monday night.

City trained at Floreat’s home ground Litis Stadium on Monday evening prior to Athena training, giving the hosts a good first-hand look at their opponents.

“We’ve got a bit of a plan,” Grostate said. “We know where they’re at with their players and what they do.

“We’re part-timers and they’re full-timers, but it’s the cup. You’ve got to go out there and play and not sit back.

“We can’t go out bulls charging otherwise they’ll pick us apart. What we’re going to try and do is set ourselves up right and counter what they’re trying to do.”

The most familiar names among the Floreat’s ranks to most is ex-Perth Glory winger Ludovic Boi and long-time Indonesian Super League star Robbie Gaspar, but Grostate promised more.

“We’ve got Lewis McMahon who has an England C cap,” he said.

“We’ve got Kris Gate who played at Newcastle, we’ve got Bobby Wilson who was a pro, so we’re not frightened of them.

“Some of these boys have been in big occasions already so they’re taking control.”