The 20-year-old was a key figure in the Mariners’ title-winning youth squad last season and still names the likes of first team graduates Mitch Duke, Bernie Ibini and Anthony Caceres among his best mates.

But that will count for nothing when the two teams step on the park in a game that could catapult the A-League new boys to the top of the pile at the expense of the defending Premiers.

About 5000 Wanderers fans are expected to travel up for the game but Appiah-Kubi insists no one in the squad is getting carried away by the hype.

“This is a chance to go top of the league but we don’t really want to be thinking of that,” he said. “We just want to be focusing on how we can win this game against a team that’s in top form.

“I think with what we’ve achieved – it’s pretty unexpected and I think all the boys believe we can really do this and give (the Premiership) a good shot. But we still have five games to go and we’re trying to take it a game at a time.”

With a finals berth already locked in, the Wanderers are gunning for their eighth straight win and an opportunity to put themselves in pole position for some silverware in their first season.

And there’s no doubt Appiah-Kubi wants to notch up a win against his former club after a scoreless draw in the opening round and a 2-0 loss at home to Graham Arnold’s men in round 16.

“It’s going to be a massive game,” he adds. “Everyone is looking forward to it.

The dynamic winger credits Dutchman Youssouf Hersi and German defender Jerome Polenz for taking his game to the next level.

“I play in the same position (as Hersi) and he gives me a lot of tips about how I can improve myself,” he said.

“He’s been a big help in my football development along with Jerome – he plays right-back but he sees everything from behind and gives me tips defensively and attacking-wise.

“Both players have been fantastic for me.

“In my opinion Youssouf is one of the best players in the league at the moment, and the same with Jerome, he’s been very consistent. Taking advice from them is always a positive.”

New Zealand-born to Ghanaian parents, Appiah-Kubi has made nine appearances this season for the Wanderers, including two starts, and believes he’s starting to find his feet in the topflight.

He adds: “At first I wasn’t developing quite as good as I’d like but then Popa gave me confidence and I think my development in the last six or seven weeks has improved dramatically.”

It’s all a far cry from his childhood in Merrylands, kicking a ball around the local park with kids from the neighbourhood like Mustafa Amini – another former Mariner made good and now plying his trade for Borussia Dortmund II in Germany.

Appiah-Kubi was nine and had never “kicked a ball properly” when he registered with Parramatta Junior Soccer Club.

“I had no idea how to play the sport,” he said. “I remember my first ever game I did a throw in and I jumped probably about two metres off the ground and the ref called me for a foul throw and I had no idea what he was on about.”

Now that he’s on the verge of something great with the Wanderers and hoping to catch the eye of Australian selectors ahead of next year’s U22 AFC Championship, he’s not wasting a moment.

“As a young player you dream about being a professional footballer”, he said. “At the end of the day it’s a dream job.”