A 0-0 draw at the Sydney Football Stadium means the Sky Blues remain third on the Festival of Football ladder with four points. AEK lead with 13 points, followed by Rangers with six points and Blackburn sit fourth with two points.

"It was a much improved performance for us. I want to congratulate the players of both teams and the fans for being here tonight," Lavicka said.

"We will take many positives from this performance. We will learn things and they will help us. We have tough game again on Saturday night to help us to be ready for round one of the A-League.

"It was very hard conditions for the players. They didn't stop which is very positive for us. I think it was a really good performance tonight."

He added: "The defence generally seemed to be more compact than the last game. 

'Hayden Foxe was very good. He brings the experience, brings the sharpness so he was one of the main players for the improvement."

Another positive for Sydney was the first start for new marquee man Nicky Carle after his off-season move from English club Crystal Palace.

The Socceroo midfielder played the first 45 minutes in his return from a hamstring injury before Lavicka opted to rest him with an on the start of the A-League season in 10 days time.

Despite the deplorable state of the waterlogged SFS surface, Carle showed some good touches which augurs well for Sydney's title defence.

"I felt really good, obviously I would have like to have played 90 minutes but you always start by doing the responsible thing," Carle said.

"I haven't played for three months; it was my first game back so it was a responsible thing to do. But I enjoyed it and the boys played some good football, all on the ground so I was very happy."

Lavicka said of Carle: "I'm happy that Nicky is back, he did a good job but we must manage his integration bit by bit."

"These conditions to make it difficult to play with any injury. We just wanted him to play until halftime. He will be ready (for the start of the A-League)."

However Sydney central defender Keller was forced off with a hamstring injury which will be assessed today with Lavicka hopeful it won't be serious enough to rule him out of the season opener against Melbourne on August 7.

Sydney FC take on  Rovers to conclude the inaugural Festival of Football at the SFS on Saturday night while AEK  face Rangers.