Speaking after Sydney FC returned from Brisbane following their A-League finals exit to Queensland on Friday night, Popovic said he hoped his side's fitness would be a factor in bringing home a trophy.

“We're still fit enough at this stage of the season and you've got pride and of course it'll be a relaxed atmosphere but you want to do well and do Sydney FC proud and do ourselves proud.”

Sydney FC begin training next Tuesday morning before leaving for Honolulu the following Sunday.

There they will play MLS champion Houston Dynamo on Wednesday in the opening match of the tournament at Honolulu's 50,000 seat Aloha stadium.

The match will be a double header with LA Galaxy playing J-League powerhouse Gamba Osaka in the night's second match.

The two winners play-off in the final three days later with the two losers fighting for third and fourth spot.

So, potentially, Sydney could be matched with David Beckham's Galaxy just three months after beating them 4-2 in Sydney in front of over 80,000 fans.

“It's starting to sink in now,” added Popovic. “Last night there probably wasn't too much talk about it... I'd definitely rather be playing next weekend here in the A-League finals but we can't change things now and Hawaii it is.”

**Stay logged onto au.fourfourtwo.com as we'll be with Sydney FC in Honolulu reporting on all that is going on at the tournament on and off the park.