Sydney FC will be viewing Zullo as an important piece of the tactical puzzle as the left back will be key in creating a balance that was lacking in Graham Arnold’s squad last season.

With international and European club game experience to fall back on, Zullo knows what to expect when he takes the field in the Sydney Derby on Saturday night.

“It’s very exciting,” he said. “I’ve been lucky enough in my career to play in some big games and they are moments that I’ve really cherished.

"I’ve played in derbies in Holland which was against Ajax and that was always a massive, massive game.

“There is no bigger game for a Sydney FC player than a Sydney derby. That is something I’m really, really looking forward to and I think it’s got added importance this year with it being the first game of the season.

“So it’s really important to get off to a winning start.”

Zullo’s return from an ACL injury last season was cut short when he broke his toe and Arnold believes that the speedy fullback will be key in how Sydney want to play this season.

“He’s got a lot of quality,” Arnold said. “We are trying to play Michael to his strength and that is higher up the field, more as an overlapping fullback.

"He didn’t do that much last season; he was much flatter. But we are looking to get our full backs higher and further forward and into the final third where he’s got the quality of giving crosses and giving assist and even scoring goals.

“They’re the games you look forward to play. So everyone is fired up and ready to go, that’s what you want as a footballer to play those sorts of games and amongst those sorts of fans.”

Meanwhile new Sydney recruit Brillante is also looking ahead to making his A-League debut for the Sky Blues in Saturday night’s massive derby.

“We are all super excited for the first game,” Brillante said.

“Obviously playing against the Wanderers at ANZ Stadium it’s going to be a huge crowd and a big game.”

After initial success with Fiorentina in Italy’s Serie A, Brillante was loaned to second division Como and after having to return home Arnold admitted that the fringe Socceroo was down when he first joined the harbour side.

“His confidence got rattled a bit from his time in Italy,” Arnold said. “But he’s come back in a good frame of mind, he’s got a three-year deal with Sydney and we are happy to have him.

“I know he’s played at right back but I like him as a number six. I think he can add a lot of value in there, not only because of his running capacity but also his ball winning capacity and is quality on the ball.”