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The Wanderers and Sydney FC face-off at Parramatta Stadium in front of a sell-out crowd on Saturday night.

And the former Sky Blues marksman had no trouble summing up the importance of the blockbuster game: “We’re making history.”

Bridge who grew up in the western suburb of St Clair says he understands all too well what the clash means for local football fans.

“It’s massive for the area,” he said. “We’re part of history. It’s the first derby game and it’s a moment that so many A-League fans have been waiting for.

“I’m not going to lie, when the draw came out, it was the first game I looked for.

“The first two games when they came we concentrated on them but they’ve been and gone and the derby’s finally here.

“It’s not only a big moment for me and other ex-Sydney FC players, it’s a massive moment for Australian football.

“We have a smaller stadium but a sell-out is still massive and to add to that both sets of fans are very vocal.

“So the atmosphere will be there – maybe even better than Melbourne being in a smaller stadium.

“Who knows, maybe in a couple of years the derby will become so big they’ll be playing it at ANZ."

Bridge is no stranger to history, becoming the first player in the league to score in two grand finals, for Sydney FC and Newcastle Jets.

But he said opening his account for the Wanderers in the first Sydney derby would be hard to beat.

“Every footballer knows when it’s a derby there’s big tackles, controversy, massive crowds – it’s all there," he said. "Every footballer wants to be part of that.

“The Wanderers have been a lot more competitive than teams thought we were going to be and we’re certainly going into this match feeling we can win.”

The contrast between the two teams is stark. Sydney FC are leaking goals and the new boys can’t score them.

In the opening two rounds Wanderers have failed to find the back of the net and the harbour-siders have shipped five.

There’s mounting pressure on both teams to record their first win.

And with five former Sky Blues players making the move across town to the new outfit, including Wanderers Head Coach Tony Popovic, the night could provide plenty of niggle.

Bridge still has plenty of mates among his old club and will catch up with Sydney FC captain Terry McFlynn for coffee this week. It’s a rapport that doesn’t extend to the pitch.

He added: “We’re friends away from football but players know, once you cross that white line, that’s where the friendship ends,”

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