Petrovski, who left the Harbour City for rivals Central Coast in the off-season, said he’ll be passing his insights into his former side on to McKinna before their clash at the Sydney Football Stadium.

“We'll definitely be talking quietly, confidentially so I can't say too much,” Petrovski told au.fourfourtwo.com.

Petrovski, 32, banged in a club record 14 goals in two seasons at Moore Park. Part of that haul included a hat trick against the Mariners in round 11 of season one.

But Sasho knows his old side will be looking to avenge their 3-0 pre-season defeat at the hands of Mariners.

“They'll obviously want to put one over on me. Certainly they won't want to let the pre-season result repeat itself," said Petrovski.

“They might change their game plan but it's good to know where their strengths are.

"At the moment they're going into a rebuilding phase. They've lost a lot of championship players who've won the league with them."

He added: "It'll be an important game for both sides.”

Coach McKinna said the understanding between the strikeline duo of Petrovski and Nik Mrdja is not quite the finished article, but should cause Popovic and co a few headaches.

"It's starting to get better," said the Scottish-born supremo of the forward pairing.

"Obviously both have missed games at times but overall they're doing alright and I think they'll get better and can get better still.”

However, McKinna was keen to emphasise that the side’s all-round ability to find the net is back after a dry season two in front of goal.

"Since we've started pre-season, Mrdja's scored six, Adam Kwasnik four and I think Sasho three and three of four goals have been spread across other players," he said.

"Although Tommy Pondeljak needs to score more goals, I reckon Mile Jedinak will get in the box for us.

“So whereas last season we were a little one-dimensional in terms of where the goals are coming from, this year’s a bit different.”

Petrovski’s departure was not a popular one with the Sydney fans. And the player says the club could’ve done more to hold onto him.

“I think Sydney could've done a bit better in holding onto me in that situation," he admitted.

"When I was out on the pitch I did everything possible and asked for that a player could do.

"And not just for a coach but for yourself to prove it and to the fans to get that respect."

He added: “That's why the fans are a little bit upset in me moving on.

"Coming to the end of a contract expiry dates... players can't be in a position where their future lies in a question mark. You need certainty.

“Players have mortgages like everyone else. They need to have a clear direction to their future.”