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McFlynn has come under intense scrutiny since the start of the season and coach Ian Crook has been under relentless pressure to reconsider his captain's role after criticism of his performances.

Crook has yet to reveal his teamsheet for the weekend, but McFlynn looks set for a role off the bench, with vice-captain Emerton most likely to move into the leadership position onfield.

McFlynn offered to return the armband before the season began when Sydney signed Italian superstar Alessandro Del Piero, but Crook stuck with his Northern Ireland veteran.

However the issue boiled over when Sydney fans cheered when McFlynn was substituted during last weekend's game against Newcastle Jets.

Sydney rallied after the switch and pulled a goal back, further damaging McFlynn's claim on a first team place.

Crook has already admitted he'll find it hard for the team to stick to a gameplan in the intense passion of the city derby.  

He has had the Sky Blues working over-time on a controlled, short passing game at training but concedes the match is likely to be decided on good old-fashioned guts and hunger.

Having played in plenty of derbies at Norwich and Tottenham, the Sydney boss acknowledges emotions will be running high at Parramatta Stadium.

"It all depends on how you handle the emotion as a player. You are told what to do and then the emotion of a derby ... you start flying around everywhere," Crook said.

"AC Milan-Inter Milan, Liverpool-Everton, Arsenal and Spurs ... all derbies are dog fights and I'm not expecting anything different.

"I think you'll see on the weekend that it will be a full-blooded affair."

The inaugural all-Sydney clash is a sell-out, with Crook declaring that a strong sign of the city's hunger for football.

"Sydney needs a derby. We've had a free run for a few years now and we need to embrace this," he said. "Even though it's a new rivalry, it's really been building the last couple of years.

"Now it's come to fruition and we can't wait."

The Wanderers sit a place above winless Sydney after a draw and loss to start the campaign and Crook admires what the new franchise has achieved in a short space of time.

"We're expecting them to be a well-organised, well-drilled side," he said. "I've been very impressed with them over the first two games."

Meanwhile Alessandro Del Piero showed he has no injury concerns by staying on after training to work on his freekicks. Check out our video of just the last five minutes of his 20+ minute session.

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