Tiatto has withdrawn for family reasons while Kruse misses out due to illness. The pair have been replaced in the travelling squad by Tahj Minniecon and Mitch Nichols.

As the Roar squad headed for Sydney today, midfielder Matt McKay said the match at Campbelltown was a crucial part of the build up to the big kick off.

The midfielder said: "With 21 games you’ve got to be starting firing (from the start of the season) otherwise you get left behind pretty quickly. Everyone’s aware of that and fighting for spots.

“We’re all fit and raring to go. It was good last week against Palmeiras, we had a good hit-out.”

Tomorrow night’s match, held in Campbelltown in Sydney’s west, is the first of three group games, with the winner of the group progressing into the Pre-Season Cup Final on August 6.

The following games see Roar take on Wellington Phoenix at the Sunshine Coast and the Central Coast Mariners at Perry Park in Brisbane, and McKay is looking forward to the change of scenery.

He said: "It’s all about adapting to different situations and that can happen during the season,” he said. “It’s good for the whole league to be away in different regions of the country.”

While the players have shown signs of combining well on the pitch, McKay said the extra travel gave them a good chance to get to know each other a bit better.

He said: “It’s good to be a part of the team and really gel because we’ve got only three games before the season starts proper."

Tomorrow night’s match kicks off at 7pm.

Queensland Roar will then take on Wellington Phoenix at Stockland Park on the Sunshine Coast on Sunday, 27 July at 2.30pm.

Squad: 1. Liam REDDY, 2. Andrew PACKER, 3. Luke DEVERE, 7. Michael ZULLO, 8. Massimo MURDOCCA, 9. Sergio VAN DIJK, 10. Charlie MILLER, 12. Tahj MINNIECON, 13. Chris GROSSMAN, 14. Ben GRIFFIN, 15. Matthew McKAY, 16. Hyuk-Su SEO, 17. Mitch NICHOLS, 20. Griffin McMASTER, 23. Tim SMITS.