Muscat also belives excuses have been made externally on the club’s behalf.

The pitch has deteriorated badly in recent weeks due to the increase in use of NRL and Super Rugby. It looked poor in Sydney’s semi-final clash against Perth Glory.

The NSW Waratahs are set to play Auckland Blues at Allianz on Saturday which could further damage the pitch.

Muscat has accused “cheerleaders” of placing doubts in their mind, stating they are fully prepared and have nothing to be afraid of.

He made the point the most important thing and the only aspect the club could control was their preparation which he said is going smoothly.

 “Some of the cheerleaders have tried to put excuses in our mouths,” Muscat said. “I for one have never made an excuse, accepted everything that’s gone our way. Pre and post-games and we will make no excuses this time round.

“You know what? Move the game somewhere else and tell us two hours before kick-off and we’ll turn up there and play, we don’t care.

“It’s just the way it is, we’ll turn up wherever we have to play. It happens to be at Allianz, a lot of our players have had some good times there and it’s going to be a good game of football for us first and foremost and one we’re prepared for.

“There’s a lot written and said during the week… It’s very Sydney-centric this competition isn’t it? It’s great, it feels like it’s us against the nation so it’s just the way I like it.”

Muscat has been involved in all of Victory’s grand finals, captaining in 2007, 2009 and 2010 and was head coach when they last won it in 2015.

But despite having the favourite son tag, Muscat wouldn’t comment about what it would mean to him and said attention should be on the players.

A deflated Muscat and Roddy Vargas after losing the 2010 grand final to Sydney

He has a full squad to choose from at this point.

“I haven’t given any oxygen to a story about myself because it’s not about me, I’m not going to hijack the week by making it about me,” Muscat said.

“It’s about the group. It’s been a clear message and theme that it is about the playing group. They’ve worked so hard… Yes, they’ve had assistance from the chairman, CEO but it’s their week.

“We’ve done the same, it’s been the same approach this week and you haven’t seen any quotes from any individual about me, it’s about the playing group.

“What our job is to make sure we give them the best opportunity to play the best they can and all the indications at this point in time is that’s the case so I’m just excited for them.”

Asked what Sydney’s weaknesses were, he said they were only focusing on themselves.

He said if his troops played at their best, cracks would appear in the Sky Blues’ line-up.

“From our perspective, within the belief we do have is that is we want to perform to our capabilities and perform to where our standards should be,” Muscat said.

“That’s what’s reaped us benefits in the past and that’ll be the case here. We want to play at our best and the result will look after itself.”