Western Sydney Wanderers' star striker Oriol Riera has urged his teammates to remain calm and focused when they take on Sydney FC at Allianz Stadium in the season's first Sydney derby on Saturday.
The Red and Blacks broke a three-year winless streak against their cross-city rivals in their previous meeting at ANZ Stadium last February after a 26th minute strike from Brendon Santalab sealed a hard-fought 1-0 victory.
Now two games into the new A-League season, Hayden Foxe's men have enjoyed their best ever start to the campaign with the club now in fourth place with four points thanks to a win and a draw in their opening fixtures.
Wanderers' new recruit Riera, who has two goals in as many matches so far, claims he thrives on the energy of local derbies and believes it is a perfect stage to gauge how much the team has improved this season.
"It’s difficult to stay calm and stay concentrated, but I think Western Sydeny Wanderers need to do so and do everything we worked on during the week," he told Goal. "And we know we’re coming against tough opponents.
"I played in derbies between Barca and Espanyol, Celta Vigo and Deportivo de Coruna, Leon and Valladolid; lot of derbies I have played with passion. I want to play and I am expecting a big and passionate game.
"I think these games are ways to improve in the league and there are many more games, but we enjoy this environment with packed stadiums in front of our vocal fans who support us."
Despite a winning start to their title defence, the Sky Blues have so far looked a shadow of their former selves with the club just managing to hold on for a 3-2 win over Wellington Phoenix in their previous outing.
However, Riera insists the Wanderers will be looking to assert their dominance but warned Sydney's unconvincing start will have no bearing on the outcome of the clash.
"We prepare for it like any other game knowing that it is a big game, especially for the fans," he continued.
"We know we are away from home but nothing changes, and we have to do the things we have worked on during pre-season.
"For us, to play it in front of 40,000 people, we have to concentrate and play hard on the things that only we can control."
Meanwhile, the former Osasuna man is adamant nothing has changed under Hayden Foxe, dismissing suggestions Tony Popovic's surprise departure could be detrimental to their campaign.
The one-time Crystal Palace assistant sensationally walked out on the eve of the A-League season, taking up a job at Karabükspor in Turkey.
"Nothing changes under Foxey; he is continuing the way we played under Popovic," he said.
"He was the assistant coach and he knows all the players, the team and the club. He knows the positives and weaknesses of the team. Foxey controls all the tactics and we have no doubts.
"Because Popovic started the club, it is normal that a lot will change. But I think it has all been continuous.
"We signed for the club and we have to play for the fans and for the club. Only work, play hard and train hard and that’s it."
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