Sydney FC take on Melbourne City in the National Youth League Grand Final at Central Coast Stadium this Saturday at 2pm with the game being shown live on Foxtel.

The Sky Blues booked their spot in the decider as the top team in Conference B after beating the Mariners last weekend.

After last year's 5-2 win over Adelaide United, Sydney will be hoping to be crowned the best youth team in the country for the second year in succussion, however, Stanton expects a tighter contest this time.

“It will be a close game as both teams want to play pro-active football and use the ball,” he said. “We both have very similar styles of football. So that will be interesting to see who can control the game through possession or on field position. I see that as a real challenge.

“It will be down to which team can set up in all areas of the game and how you can win the ball back in all areas. It will also be down to the final pass in execution. It will be a very hard tough and entertaining game ahead and it’s a game we are looking forward to.”

Sydney FC senior men’s coach Graham Arnold said bringing the youth and first team closer together was an important part of developing Sydney’s youngsters.

“That’s the work that I’ve tried to do in the last two years as well as coach the first team, to show that there is a pathway and let those kids train with us,” he said.

Stanton used Aaron Calver as an example of the existing pathway to the senior squad.

“He was an NYL player before he got his chance in the first team,” he said. “George Timotheou, Patrick Flottmann were also in the mix and they have been training with the first team and that is pleasing. Even though they lost a quality player in Matt Jurman they are three centre backs who are all keen for the opportunity, young kids who are all under the age of 20 and who are ready for their chance."

Stanton said there were more youth team members who are on the cusp of taking the next step.

“We’ve also got midfielders, fullbacks, and attacking players who we consider the same,” he said.

“Andre Agamemnonos has done really well he has played every game and has been very consistent. “Chris Zuvela has been really good, Nicola Kuleski has done well. Liam McGing has played well at the back. William Mutch has done really well in the wide areas for us. Those players have played the most amount of games while everyone else has been in and out of the team due to rotation.

“We have to make sure we keep working hard to make sure they stay on the radar.”