The Mariners face new A-League boys Melbourne Heart after 10 off-season games over recent months - but only two of those ten have been against A-League opposition.

The remainder have been second-tier sides such as Belconnen United, Blacktown, Bankstown and select sides from Tasmania and Central Coast.

Tricky opposition but not in the class of an AEK, Blackburn Rovers, Everton, Glasgow Rangers or Boca Juniors - which have all all toured Australia in the last month playing A-League opposition - including Heart.

But Wilkinson believes the fine-tuning required to shoe-horn 11 new signings into new coach Graham Arnold's squad was better served against minnows.

"Sydney and those other guys who've been playing those high profile teams ... that's a fantastic pre-season for them," the defender told au.fourfourtwo.com.

"Sydney have played four world class teams. They've been blessed. They tested themselves in those four games and they'd really know they're ready.

"And we would've loved to have had that as well. But we've played Sydney and Melbourne as well and performed quite well against both. The boys are slowly starting to get the structure right in their heads."

Aside from games, and while there is no marquee signing at Gosford, Wilkinson believes Argentine import Patricio Perez will be a creator with all the attributes of a big money marquee - without the price tag.  

"He's probably that sort of player that we've lacked in recent years and now he's even more settled, he'll do well for us. He is a good player, and could be a great player for us," said Wilkinson who turns 26 next week and is a foundation player at the Mariners. 

Wilkinson first met Arnold at NSL club Northern Spirit over a decade ago when he'd train during school holidays at North Sydney. He has been impressed with the new coaching structure but concedes it's a work in progress.

"It's taken time for us to find the way each other plays but pre-season's gone well and Arnie's brought in a different philosophy on coaching," he said.

"It's an organised, disciplined team ethic. He wants us to be hard to break down but also attacking as well. Well, that's the plan anyway!"

Wilkinson added: "A lot of the teams we've played against in pre-season have been lesser [standard] but against these teams if you can get your structures right in these games for the bigger games ahead, then that's important.

"We're ready, there's no two ways about that."

**In other news, Aussie Adrian Madaschi, 28, has signed a one-year extension with newly promoted Serie B club Portosummaga. The five times capped Socceroo is said to have rejected offers from Asia to remain in Italy where he's hoping it will boost his Socceroo chances with the new national coaching staff.