Speaking at the final official press conference before Friday night’s sold-out Melbourne derby, the buoyant Victory coach said he’s been impressed by the interest in the game.

“It’s fantastic to have both teams doing so well and to have the game at a fantastic stadium,” he said.

“The crowd’s really close. It’ll be like a football game you’d play in Europe with the atmosphere.

“It’s fantastic for football in Australia and in Melbourne. The atmosphere will be electric and our players can’t wait to see a full house here with the blue and white.”

Heart’s Dutch-born coach John van’t Schip was equally taken by the derby concept and said it reaffirmed the need for a red and white half of the city.

“We know the importance of the game,” he said. "Not just because of the ladder but because of the rivalry. I think it’s a good thing. People enjoy it, we enjoy it

“A lot of people come to the stadium, there’s a lot of attention. These are the things I think that the FFA wanted when they created the second team in Melbourne."

Heart are currently sitting third on the A-League ladder and now have a sniff of Asian Champions League football in 2013 thanks to the chance of an extra spot for an A-League side.

However the Dutchman didn’t want to speculate on whether this was extra motivation for doing well this season.

“They [the Heart board] are not talking about us having to be third or fourth or second," he said. "Of course we’d like to finish as high as possible… there’s no pressure for us to finish on a certain position.”

Durakovic conceded Heart were in hot form going into the derby, emphasizing the red and whites’ selection stability.

But he didn’t want to say whether the pressure was more on the third placed red and whites rather than his team.

“All of a sudden they are playing the football John wants them to play," said Durakovic. "And it’s fantastic to see. but I’m very happy with the way we’re going.

“We want to put on a show for our blue and white army. I know it’s an away game but for me and the players it will be like a home game because of our supporters, our blue and white army."

In team news key red and whites midfielder Jonatan Germano was tested at training yesterday but will not play on Friday night due to injury.

It's unclear at this stage who will replace the suspended Billy Celeski in the Victory line-up.

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