"I don't think we are a team that can nullify him, I think we have to nullify Sydney by pressuring and stopping him getting the ball," McKinna told au.fourfourtwo.com at today's media launch of A-League season three.

After watching Sydney's friendly against Penrith Nepean United on Friday, McKinna already has ideas about where the World cup winner will slot into Sydney's attack.

"He played in behind Alex Brosque," said McKinna. "He'll want to play in the hole.

"That's what I'd think but who knows. Branko's changed his team two or three times in the last couple of weeks. I'll tell you five minutes into the game on Friday night."

The Central Coast coach added that defensively, FC could be light on with the former Athletic Madrid and Boro playmaker on the park.

"He'll not want to have too many defensive duties because he's not got the legs to do it," he said.

"I think he'll play off the strikers or striker, the main man through the middle and be the link in behind the strikers.

"Everyone says Juninho's underdone and it's not rocket science to see that he's not where he wants to be, but the guy's a class player."

Another class player, according to the Mariners supremo, is attacking left back Dean Heffernan.

The season one A-League revelation is slowly reaching peak fitness after an interrupted off-season following his return from the fringes of first team football at Nuremberg in the German Bundesliga.

"Having the Heff back [Dean Heffernan] back gives us an extra dimension. His hairstyle looks good too," joked McKinna.

"But you can see in training he looks more accomplished on his right foot whereas before he was fairly one-side.

"His crossing is better, he's still got his pace. The year's training over there has done him the world of good. I think he's an all-round better player and probably understands the game a bit better.

"It's just now a matter of getting 90 minutes out of him consistently. He has been struggling with injuries and playing a full game."