Defender Jacob Timpano is also a doubt, further depleting Sydney's ranks ahead of the game.

Kosmina said: "“It's going to be touch and go as to whether they will be fit to play.

"The season is about having depth in your squad, ours will be severely tested, but its part and parcel of how seasons turn out sometimes.”

Despite being faced with a long list of unavailable stars, Kosmina is reluctant to throw recently crowned 'Football Superstar' winner Adam Hett straight into the starting line-up.

“I wouldn't do that to him. However there is a strong possibility that he could be on the bench for the first game.”

Leaving aside the question of injuries at his own club, Kosmina feels last season's A-League young guns face the toughest of tests this year now they no longer have the element of surprise as a weapon.

The Sydney FC coach is looking forward to seeing how those who burst on to the scene last year adjust to the demands of their second season.

Football is littered with players who arrive in a blaze of excitement, only to burn out as quickly as they arrived.

The Sydney FC coach expects a lot of questions will be asked this year of last year's 'promising kids'.

Kosmina said: "Take Nathan Burns for example. Nathan's first season at Adelaide was probably a lot better than his second.

"With young blokes you always get that second season syndrome. People work them out, they know what they're capable of.

"Michael Zullo is a leftie for example. You can sort of work out now which way he's going to dribble. You know what Robbie Kruse is like. You use that to your own advantage."