Wanderers set out on epic journey

It's only a glorified kick-about designed essentially to introduce Sydney's second A-League team to its fan base at suburban Cook Park.

But it's a little A-League history in the making.

After so many public forums and club statements of intent and a level of goodwill and anticipation not seen in Sydney since the start of the A-League in 2005, the Wanderers finally will get down to business in their red and black hoops.

They will use the trial against the New South Wales fourth-tier side to pass the rule on several triallists who are hoping to join the nine contracted players on the new club's roster.

Coach Tony Popovic is expected to give all his contracted players a run in the club's historic first match.

They are goalkeeper Ante Covic, defenders Tarek Elrich, Nikolai Topor-Stanley, Michael Beauchamp and Shannon Cole, midfielder Aaron Mooy and strikers Mark Bridge, Labinot Haliti and Kwabena Appiah-Kubi.

Defender Topor-Stanley said that the whole playing group was looking forward to being part of a special event.

"We all feel we will be part of history," Topor-Stanley said.

"Western Sydney is the heartland of football in NSW and has been dreaming of its own team for a long time.

"The match versus Nepean will be a special moment because this is the first game for the Western Sydney franchise.

"And it is good that we are playing in the western Sydney area in front of what we hope will be our future home crowd.

"This is something we have all been looking forward to for the last few weeks."

Topor-Stanley, who joined the club after spending three successful seasons at Newcastle Jets, is expected to figure prominently in a defence that on paper is looking solid and experienced

He is expected to form a central defensive partnership with Beauchamp.

"It is looking good but we still have more than half the squad to fill up," he said.

"But the signs are right and it's all positive so far.

"We are still looking to build on it and we will use the opportunity of our first trial to set a standard for ourselves."

This season will be Popovic's baptism of fire as head coach of a professional club and Topor-Stanley said he liked what he saw in Poppa.

"He is very tough but fair," he said.

"It's very early in the piece but he comes across as very honest with you and he has the qualities we look for in a leader."

The trial match kicks off at 7.30pm.

The Wanderers' next trial is against Blacktown City at Lilly Homes Stadium on Wednesday 8 August.

They open their A-League account with a home match against Central Coast Mariners most probably at Parramatta Stadium on Saturday 6 October.