Wanderers host Japanese powerhouse Urawa Reds on Tuesday night, only three days after edging Sydney FC 1-0 in a significant result for the club.

Match-winner Brendon Santalab was in tears after the game, while the result eased the pressure on Popovic. But the coach insisted his players couldn’t afford to get caught up in it all.

“When we reflect on that it’s actually very good that we have a match of this magnitude so soon,” Popovic said.

“It’s so easy to get caught up for four or five days in such a great result, the spectacle, the derby. I’m happy to have it so soon.”

Popovic flagged the potential for wholesale changes from the starting XI which lined up against the Sky Blues, despite having no new injury concerns from the derby.

“We’ll have to make some changes, there’s no doubt about that,” he said.

“All the players want to play that played on Saturday night. You expect that.

“They also understand this period. We have a big squad and a lot of players have been waiting for their opportunity as well.”

Popovic revealed Wanderers had sent an official to watch Urawa in Saturday’s Japanese Super Cup 3-2 defeat to Kashima Antlers.

The 2017 J.League season doesn’t start until this Saturday, meaning Wanderers haven’t had many opportunities to scout their opponents who finished top last season and won the domestic Cup.

“We know their coach (Mihailo Petrovic), he’s done great things at Sanfrecce and now Urawa Reds,” Popovic said.

“He’s a very respected man in football and Japan. We know the style that he plays.

“We saw them pay on Saturday. We sent someone to watch them play against Antlers.

“It’s hard with their season not starting to have a lot of information but we saw enough on Saturday to know what to expect. We’ve done the homework the best way we can.”