After a winless start to the season, John van’t Schip’s side were propping up the table but Heart have roared back into contention with impressive results and performances to match.

Back to back wins over Perth, Wellington and Brisbane and an unlucky loss to Central Coast show the team is finally starting to gel.

The bookies are getting on board with Heart and the players are feeling the momentum too.

“I guess Brisbane are always the team to beat and once you beat them people start to take you seriously,” Heart’s 24-year-old defender Michael Marrone told au.fourfourtwo.com.

“Our form has been good. We’ve been getting wins away from home after a difficult start to the season.

“We’re playing a lot different football to what we were last year due to the mobility of the side. We’ve got a lot more guys who can run whereas last year we had a few older, experienced boys.

“It’s changed the way we played. It feels like the team’s now a lot more mobile.”

Marrone explained that last season - the club's inaugural in the competition - their structure was still being refined largely due to the late arrival of a few key players.

“This year, we’ve got a clear idea of how we want to play, to press and I think going into every game I feel confident in how we’re going to play, and if we play the way we want that we’re going to get a result," he said.

With 20,000 tickets already sold, this Christmas Classico between Heart (the home side) and Victory could be a sell-out.

With both sides coming off eye-catching wins on the weekend – Heart’s 2-1 win over Glory was their third on the trot while Victory flattened Phoenix 3-1 – it all points to a Melbourne derby that could eclipse all previous editions.

Heart are just two points off second placed Roar with a game in hand while Victory have moved into fifth after picking up four points from their last two games.

Marrone was on the verge of a big move to Cagliari in the off-season before a coaching change at the Italian club scuppered the deal.

He said it’s worked out well as he’s been able to link up with former Victory man Mate Dugandzic down the right.

And he is itching to continue his attacking combinations with the 22-year-old Olyroo on Friday night.

“Mate has scored goals and also his assists," said former Adelaide United player Marrone. "Especially him being in front of me it’s quite good.

“He never does anything I can complain about! He always tracks back and does his job defensively. “It’s been a good combination.”

Dugandzic has had a standout season in the red and white since making the cross-town switch from Victory in the off-season.

He scored the winner last week in Perth – his fifth goal of the season – and was one of the stars of the last Melbourne Derby in round three.

Marrone added: “Hopefully with our recent form we can put up a decent showing. We always do against Victory but hopefully that continues on."

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