Dominic Bossi is a football reporter with The Sydney Morning Herald.
Every time Danny Vukovic stepped on a plane for an away trip last season, his thoughts where elsewhere. His newborn son was diagnosed with a life-threatening liver condition and there was nobody at home to support he and his wife.
An experienced Dutch defender has answered Sydney FC's defensive crisis with former Eredivisie stalwart Jordy Buijs inking a deal with the Sky Blues.
Popovic: 'I hope he's right because if he doesn't have to make a save, then he's pulling the ball out of the back of the net.'
For the past week, Nicolas Martinez has been a man obsessed, watching hours of derby footage in the hope of ending Sydney FC's reign over the city.
Sydney FC are facing the prospect of giving a teenager his debut in a derby but coach Graham Arnold believes Western Sydney Wanderers will still struggle to get a shot on target.
A 19-year-old Sydney FC defender is set to make his debut in the Sydney derby, but Wanderers' troubled attack makes them the perfect opponent, says Alex Brosque.
"Is money dominating the game that much?"
Sydney FC will be looking to fast-track a European central defender into their squad this week in the wake of a looming defensive crisis as a result of a costly win over Central Coast Mariners.
A freak injury to Seb Ryall just two minutes into Sydney FC's clash with the Mariners has reduced their defence to bare bones ahead of next week's derby against the Wanderers.
After slumping to another defeat, Western Sydney Wanderers are putting all their hopes on a comeback this season on Saturday night's A-League derby.
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