More than 60,000 fans are expected to attend the first-ever Sydney Derby at ANZ Stadium, which Arnold claimed Sydney has loaned to Wanderers.

"It's our stadium," Arnold said earlier this week. "We're loaning the Wanderers our stadium for the game.

"We've played Chelsea and Tottenham there; we played Newcastle there last year. So it's more our stadium than theirs because we've been on it more than them."

The Sky Blues boss also claimed last season’s seventh place finish wasn’t all that bad because they didn’t lose to Wanderers in their three encounters.

Arnold is typically chirpy in the lead-up to derbies, claiming Wanderers play in a “little shed” last season and Western Sydney striker Brendon Santalab laughed off the attempted jibes.

“There’s a red and black net here, so it’s clear to see that we’re at home,” Santalab said.

“I don’t know where Arnie pulled that one from. He loves it, he loves the pre-game banter.

“We wont buy into that. We’re very focused on what we have to do.

“It’s round one and everything is up for stake.”

Santalab also said he was “disappointed” with Sydney captain Alex Brosque's comments about “hating” every Wanderers player on derby day.

“It’s our job to play. The sledging has never a part of me before games,” Santalab said.

“It’s all about preparation and focus. Everybody deals with their preparations differently.

“Brosquey is a great guy, to hear him say that is a little bit disappointing.

“Maybe it’s because his family follow the Wanderers, I’m not too sure, but I’m not getting involved in that.”