Sydney FC are likely to be without inspirational skipper Alessandro Del Piero for Saturday derby with Western Sydney, but insist they're not a one-man team.
The 38-year-old Italian legend did not train with the squad on Monday after sustaining a calf injury in the Sky Blues' 4-0 drubbing away to Brisbane on Saturday.
However he has not yet been ruled out of the Allianz Stadium clash with the Wanderers after scans confirmed only a low-grade calf strain.
Del Piero has continued to be invaluable for the Sky Blues, almost single-handedly securing their 2-0 win over Newcastle in the season opener, scoring one goal and setting up the second.
He limped off Suncorp Stadium on Saturday in the 32nd minute to be replaced by a sluggish-looking Brett Emerton.
The Roar scored their first goal just four minutes later and slotted home three more to continue the humiliation.
But despite all evidence to the contrary, striker Joel Chianese is adamant they can manage without Del Piero.
"The reason we lost isn't because he went off," the 23-year-old forward said.
"We know how big a player he is and he's a vital part of our team but we know that if the other 10 players don't step up, then we won't win games.
"Whether he's in the team or not, we need to play our best and the way the coach wants us to play - not how we played on Saturday.
"We'll be better this week definitely."
A frustrated coach Frank Farina attacked his side's lack of fighting spirit in the Roar game and threatened to wield the axe for this weekend's match.
In a boost, he will have Panamanian forward Yairo Yau back from international duty.
Chianese said Farina hadn't been too harsh on the squad.
"Actually he hasn't said too much but basically all he's said was 'boys it wasn't good, but keep your heads up; we need to look forward to next week'.
"We're only two games into the season, and this week's going to be a huge game with a lot of expectation.
"Morale is ok now at training so we have to just work really hard."
A crowd of more than 30,000 is expected to pour into Allianz Stadium and Chianese says the occasion should be enough to lift the Sky Blues.
"It's probably come at the right tome for us after a bad loss because, if you can't step up for a derby, then you're not really in this game," he said.
"So hopefully, we can give the fans something to cheer about."
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