Sydney FC coach Vitezslav Lavicka will use the pre-season clash with the Mariners at the Sydney to continue to fine tune his side and examine potential playing combinations in the lead up to the opening match of the 2010/11 A-League season.

The Sky Blues face Melbourne Victory on Saturday August 7 at the Sydney Football Stadium to kick-off their Championship defence and Lavicka says the clash with the Mariners will be another vital step for the opening clash.  

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"Each match of the pre-season is important for us. In the games we try things and it gets the players ready. It is the same for both teams on Saturday I am sure," Lavicka said.

"We had some good moments against Everton last Saturday which is good and I am happy we are playing this game as the season is closing fast for everyone.

"We still have a few players who won't play to come back very soon which is good news for all of Sydney FC. We are looking ahead to this match and seeing our fans there. Central Coast is always tough opponents and we expect that to be the case on Saturday."

The pre-season friendly may also see the return of cult hero and speedster Kofi Danning, who, after months of hard work, is fully recovered from a knee reconstruction that he underwent in December 2009.

Under the careful guidance of the Sydney FC medical and coaching staff, the exciting 19-year-old has put in the hard yards to have himself ready for the start of the 2010/11 A-League campaign.

It will be somewhat of a historic night as the game will be the first football match played on the Sydney Showground since its move to Homebush.

The match, a Mariners home game, is also the final hit out for the Sky Blues before the Sydney Festival of Football tournament, featuring AEK Athens, Glasgow Rangers and Blackburn Rovers gets underway.

Tickets are $15 for adults with Children U16 free.

Sydney FC team: Liam REDDY, Nathan SHERLOCK, Hayden FOXE, Antony GOLEC, Sung-Hwan BYUN, Hiro MORIASU, Brendan GAN, Dimitri PETRATOS, Scott JAMIESON, Kofi DANNING, Alex BROSQUE, Mark BRIDGE, Rhyan GRANT, Ivan NECEVSKI, Stephan KELLER.