Griffiths’ decision to up-stakes and head back to the Chinese Super League may have stirred fears of another chaotic preseason for the club.

But McFlynn says the loss of the former Golden Boot winner won’t take the shine off the most balanced team the harbour-siders have put on the park in eight seasons.

“I’ve been at the club from day one and I think this is possibly our strongest squad we’ve had in all the years I’ve been here,” the 32-year-old said.

“Just in terms of depth and mobility we’ve got the right blend of experience and youngsters so I think it’s an exciting season ahead.”

The veteran skipper is expecting another big campaign from the likes of Rhyan Grant and Seb Ryall and has big wraps on Young Socceroos Hagi Gligor, 18, and marksman, Corey Gameiro, 20, who joined from Wellington Phoenix.

“Obviously a massive acquisition for us was bringing Nick Carle back to the club, retaining Tiago Calvano and Matt Jurman’s come back to the club as well,” he said.

“Marc Warren is a 21-year-old kid who went across to England, played in Scotland (Airdrie), and has now come back to the club. You’ve got Josh MacDonald (17) who’s knocking on the door as well.

“We’ve got a great balance of young kids who are coming through, youth who have already had first team experience, and then the experienced boys – Brett Emerton, Alessandro Del Piero, Pascal Bosschaart, Tiago Calvano and Nicky Carle. There’s a real good balance.

“What’s exciting for me, as a senior player, is to see some of these youngsters that were in the youth team and on the periphery now becoming seasoned professionals.”

And with just under three months to go until next season kicks off, McFlynn believes there’s plenty of time to bring in a quality signing for Griffiths.

“Joel is a big talent to replace but we’ve got time on our hands,” he said.

The general feeling is the Sky Blues were underdone at the start of the 2012/13 campaign – a situation they’re keen to avoid this time around.

Having clocked up two comprehensive wins against State league clubs, Belmore United (6-0) and Sydney University (7-1), the squad jets off to Japan on Sunday ahead of next week’s clash with J.League outfit, Sagan Tosu.

Then it’s an A-League first when the club begins a three-week tour of Italy next month, including a match against Del Piero’s first professional club, Padova.

“It’s a very exciting time not only for us as players but also for the club as a whole,” McFlynn added. “It’s massive exposure and ground-breaking in many ways.

“Certainly it’s going to be a lot of hard work, as preseason always is, but we’ve got a few games pencilled in as well and really looking forward to testing ourselves against teams over there.

“All of our games last season were beamed live on Sky Sports in Italy so the Sydney FC brand is now a global identity. There’s a lot of interest in Italy. We’ve been told to expect a lot of numbers at training sessions.”

Meanwhile earlier this week, McFlynn and other Sydney FC players had a chance to join some former Manchester United greats – including inaugural Sky Blues marquee Dwight Yorke – at a Special Olympics clinic for 42 athletes with an intellectual disability.

“It was a fantastic event and the smile on the kids’ faces showed it was a very worthwhile exercise,” he said.

“Football is a global game – that’s a term that gets bandied around a bit – but this shows it breaks down all barriers from race to sex to religion and intellectual disabilities and physical disabilities – it’s a game for everyone.”

And it wasn’t just those taking part in the training session who were star struck.

“When we got there and saw obviously Dwight and Andrew Cole, Denis Irwin and Bryan Robson – legends of the game – one of the first things we did was get a picture with them,” McFlynn said.

“That’s the beautiful thing about football. You start off as a kid playing with childlike enthusiasm, whatever you want to call it, and if you’re lucky enough that stays with you throughout your life.”