Former coach John van’t Schip and current coach Michael Valkanis did not shy away from fielding young players this season including Daniel Arzani, Denis Genreau and Ruon Tongyik.

Arzani currently has six appearances this season. Genreau has four to his name.

“The best thing about the football club is the young players coming through,” Cahill said.

“You look at Ruon, Bruce (Kamau), Denis, Arzani, Braedyn (Crowley) and Dylan (Pierias). You see the implementation of them slowly within the group but also bringing them into our training group and making sure they know they’re a first team player.

“Training 11 v 11 games, this week we’ve already played two.”

City has signed a multi-year partnership with tyre company Nexen with captain Bruno Fornaroli, Cahill and the youngsters partaking in a series of football challenges of trying to shoot through the tyres.

City could welcome back defender Michael Jakobsen from a calf injury after eight weeks out - his absence meant more game time for Tongyik.

Jakobsen was given time to rest which led to Cahill denying claims they were fractured in the back without the Dane.

“There’s no unhealthy reliance on Jakobsen because if there was we would have brought him back earlier,” he said.

“We don’t risk players, whether it’s any of the top players in the team and Jakobsen is a really important part of the team.

“Also health’s really important for us because finals are there as well and we need to be focused on making sure our players are as healthy as possible and not coming back to games 70 or 80 per cent fit.”

City have lost six games on the road this season and face strugglers Adelaide United at home on Friday.

Fornaroli said it was important to win the next two games to secure a home final.

“We play with a bit more confidence at home with our fans and people,” Fornaroli said.

“We need to finish in the best position to try and play at home, so for this reason I say this is very important to win the last two games.”