Brillante expects another Sydney win

The returning Josh Brillante says Sydney FC are expecting a similar result against Adelaide United on Friday night to the one they dished up on Boxing Day when they mauled the Reds. 

In one of their best performances of their unbeaten season so far, the Sky Blues cruised to a 4-1 win over Adelaide at Coopers Stadium last month.

While Adelaide ended five-game winless run last week with a shock 2-1 triumph over Melbourne City, Brillante - who is back after a one-game suspension - insists Sydney should have no trouble against the reigning A-League champions at Allianz Stadium.

"We're expecting a great result again…I don't see why anything is going to change," Brillante told reporters on Thursday.

"We'll go out there with the same attitude we always do.

"We've had the preparation, we're going out there with the winning mentality and hopefully we can get another four [goals] again."

While Brillante is right to be supremely confident given the Sky Blues' phenomenal run so far in 2016-17, Adelaide's recent record in Sydney is excellent.

The Reds haven't lost – or even conceded a goal – in their last five regular season matches between the two sides in the Harbour City.

That includes a 0-0 draw earlier this season.

Brillante says Sydney's team camaraderie is the best he's ever experienced in his career and has been a big factor in their surge to the top of the ladder.

"Even since day one when I arrived in pre-season, just on the training park leading into the games, the way everyone has gelled together and wants to play for each other and backs everyone up is amazing," he said.

"I've never really had that before. The feeling you get when you're out there is fantastic.

"The team that we have, the set-up here and the way we play, [staying undefeated] is definitely something we knew we could do and we've been doing it so far and we're not going to stop.

"To have that kind of confidence among the team is a big help [going forward] but I don't think we really need that. With the depth we have in the squad and the way we play, it just happens naturally."

New Sydney defender Jordy Buijs won't take on the Reds as he awaits his international clearance with Aaron Calver set to keep his spot in the heart of Graham Arnold's defence for at least one more week.