The Central Coast might have a depleted strike force but Sydney FC goalkeeper Vedran Janjetovic knows his job won't be any easier when he faces the defending A-League champions on Saturday.
With Michael McGlinchey gone to Japan, the Mariners were dealt another blow with playmaker Marcos Flores suffering a season-ending injury last week.
But despite being without their two creative linchpins, Janjetovic knows the Mariners will still cause him some trouble in front of goal in the Allianz Stadium clash.
"The Mariners are a top side. They've been a top side for a long time," he said ahead of training on Friday.
"Not having them two is obviously a loss for them but they've got a lot of depth in the squad, otherwise they wouldn't be doing as well as they are.
"So tomorrow we know they're going to come out nice and strong and be looking to get a few past me."
Last season's golden boot winner Daniel McBreen has only scored one goal so far this season but Matt Simon looks to be hitting his straps, netting his first this campaign in the Mariners' draw with Wellington last week.
And with young guns Mitchell Duke and Bernie Ibini also threatening, Janjetovic knows he'll have his work cut out.
"They are definitely dangermen," he said.
"Every time we play them, we have to keep an eye on those players.
"But we'll go out and stick to our game plan and do what we've been practising through the week."
The Sky Blues have gone four matches without victory with their derby loss to Western Sydney last week causing them to drop out of the top six for the first time since round five.
Janjetovic, who on Thursday signed on for a further two seasons with the Sky Blues, knows Sydney need to start winning if they're to be a chance of making the finals.
"All the boys are itching to get back into that top six," he said.
"I think we deserve to be there. We haven't been playing that badly; we've actually been playing some good football.
"We just need a little bit of luck to go our way and we'll be right."
The Sky Blues will be without marquee Brett Emerton with the Socceroo great's retirement taking immediate effect.
But they get Nicky Carle back from suspension and striker Joel Chianese returns from injury.
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