Brosque has reiterated Graham Arnold’s stance that the biggest roadblock to victory for the Sky Blues will not come from the other nine A-League teams, but themselves.

“Yes, I really agree,” he said to FourFourTwo. “It’s strange for Arnie. He likes normally to take the underdog tag and to fly under the radar. But I think this year it has been a bit more about embracing exactly what our club is.

“It’s a big club and we have to embrace the fact that there is a lot of pressure and a lot of expectation and we have to deliver. He has always told us the exact same thing. That we have the quality to do what we want this year and I think it will be only ourselves that will stop us from doing so. “

Brosque’s controversial statement that “we hate every single one of” the Wanderers players has dominated the lead up to the derby and the Sydney FC captain said he was not going to reign in his enthusiasm.

“To be honest I am not containing myself at all,’ he said. “I’m excited, I’m looking forward to it.  With 65,000 people at ANZ – it’s going to be incredible. We’ve played in sell out stadiums before against the Wanderers but not with this many people. The atmosphere that the two sets of fans will generate is like nothing else.”

After spending last season in and out of the team due to injury, Brosque admitted he may not be an automatic selection in Arnold’s first 11.

“I’m not sure,” he said.  “I am definitely not 90-minute match fit at the moment. With the type of squad, we have, any type of part I can play whether that is starting or coming off the bench it doesn’t matter as long as we’re winning then I am happy.”

Meanwhile, Arnold has laid down the law to his players after setting high performance expectations.

“I said to the players from day one this year, it’s no excuses,” Arnold said to FourFourTwo. “If you perform you play, if you don’t perform you don’t play it’s as simple as that.

“And Alex Brosque at the moment he’s got to get in the team. He’s been out for a long time with an injury he’s had a fantastic offseason getting himself back.

“Bobo has come in and is going well. Filip Holosko has come back lighter and fitter than what he came in his first year from Turkey, he’s got a real motivation - he’s on his last year of his contract.

“David Carney has always given assists and scoring goals and Milos Ninkovic my belief is one of the best players in the competition. I haven’t mentioned Bernie Ibini, Mat Simon and George Blackwood so there is competition for places and that only can build a healthy environment.”