“With Brisbane and the Gold Coast there’ll be a rivalry...a real rivalry and it’s going to be good. It’s going to be good for the state and good for the A-League too,” he told au.fourfourtwo.com.

Some have speculated that the Queensland derby - similar to the Central Coast versus Newcastle F3 derby - should be named after the expressway that links Brisbane to the Gold Coast.

Either way, Tiatto cannot wait for the A-League’s newest derby to explode in the Sunshine State.

“The distance between the two clubs is perfect, it’s not too close or too far,” he noted.

“It’s going to be very interesting. There’s a lot of young talent about and we’re trying to snap them all up before next season,” he said with a smile.

The Gold Coast's football producing factory has leaked players to Roar over recent years - Griffin McMaster, Mitch Nichols and "the next Harry Kewell" Tommy Oar, to name just three - but now that talent pool may be redirected to the Gold Coast as the rivalry hots up.

Tiatto, who turned 35 last month, knows all about passionate derbies. He played in many Manchester derbies between United and City clashes during his six years and 140 appearances between 1998 and 2004 with City.

“It was great," he said. "It was a pleasure to be involved in those games. They have a bit more passion and atmosphere. So it’d be good to be involved in those derbies next season [in Queensland]."

But the question is: which side would Tiatto be playing for? His contract is up at the end of this coming season at Suncorp and the former Leicester City captain does currently reside on the Gold Coast.

Quizzed on whether he would he like to finish his career at his local Skilled Park and Tiatto was diplomatic.

“I’ve always said Frank’s [Farina, Roar coach] the one who brought me here," he said. "And whatever he wants to do, I’d always like to play under him.

“You can never say never but I’m pretty much tied to play with Frank Farina. Whatever he decides to do with me, stay another year or move on.

“I’m enjoying myself at Queensland Roar but we’ll just see how it goes. I’m up at the end of the season but if they do talk to me I’d definitely would like to stay on [at Roar] as the people at the club are really nice.”