The current champions are not widely tipped to hold on their crown but the coach really doesn't care what others think.

He believes that the spirit within the squad will be the decisive factor in the team’s fortunes for the 2008/09 season.

Van Egmond said: "We have expectations of our own. We don’t mind what people outside want to rate us, or don’t rate us, or whatever the case may be.

“But we have an expectation within our group of what we need to achieve and with that comes pressure, and you have to deal with it. All good teams all over the world have to deal with that.

“If you don’t expect to do well, and you’re content with coming second, or third, or fourth, or whatever it might be, you’re not going to achieve. It’s important that you expect that you are going to win every game, you’re going to win every duel, and that’s what we look to try and do.

“There’s no shame in failing, the only shame is if you don’t try hard enough. I can assure you that this group will never fall into that category."

Although he will be without Hakansson due to a calf injury, as well as Jade North and James Holland (on Olyroo duty) van Egmond has no fears about facing the Mariners.

He said: "They’re always heated exchanges, and bragging rights down the F3 are up for grabs, so they’ll be up for the game.

“These games are won also with the heart against the Central Coast with regards to the derbies. Early on, similar to last year, we may have to grind results out and our mental fortitude and our resolve has got to be very, very strong.

“I’ve been looking forward to it for a couple of months now as I’m sure the players have. It’s one thing training each week and not having a game at the end of it, but to now have the fact that you’re playing and you’re going for three points is something which we all really enjoy the challenge of."

The Mariners could well utilise their new signings, Adrian Caceres and Ahmad Elrich this weekend, but van Egmond has faith his charges are well equipped to deal with the challenge.

He said: “We’re pretty well prepared for that. We feel that we’ve got adequate pace in the wide areas to counter that.

“We’ve got people who play in the fullback roles that are good defenders in a one-on-one situation, and are not just prepared to rely on diffusing their attacks but also creating ours, and starting ours, and being on the end of ours in the last third.

"So as much as Ahmad and Caceres are going to look to come forward, if they don’t track our players in a wide area they could be the ones who provide the goal for us at the other end."


“There’s no shame in failing, the only shame is if you don’t try hard enough. I can assure you that this group will never fall into that category,” he concluded.