Nichols says Perth obsessed with revenge

The Glory triumvirate of Billy Mehmet, Liam Miller and goalkeeper Danny Vukovic have all reinterred during the week the sense of injustice felt by Glory over the penalty Besart Berisha won and then converted in the dying minutes of the match, which handed last season's A-league crown to Roar.

But midfielder Nichols, at the vanguard of Brisbane's push for a third successive championship, has brushed aside Glory indignation over whether or not Miller fouled Berisha as Roar attempts a 15th win from 22 clashes against the men from the west.

"Perth can worry about revenge and all that stuff but we will just concenrate on playing football, and the rest will take care of itself.

"They are dwelling and thinking about too much about the game and how it ended, an that’s their problem.

"We will just worry about ourselves and take care of the job.

"We travel well, and I am confident we can get the job done."

Coach Rado Vidosic, preparing for his first A-league game in command, said: "Revenge is the main thing on Perth's mind, but for us it's just round one of season eight of the A-League.

"Perth have been quite loud in the lead-up to the game and you maybe can understand that. It will be interesting to see how they react on the day."

Nichols sees the transition from Ange Postecoglou to his successor, one-time right hand man Vidosic, as seamless.

"As far as I'm concerned it's more of the same. Rado has been there since day one and we are just carrying on what Ange built over the past two years.

"Of course, Rado has stamped his own authority on the way he wants things done but there has been no point in changing too much."

But with the pace of new arrivals Ben Halloran and Do Dong-Hyun out wide, Nichols said Roar will combine its famed pass and move football philosophy with a more direct approach.

"The players we have bought in our quick and that’s something we will look to exploit," he said.

"I'll be playing in slightly more advanced role myself although myself and Thomas Broich will probably interchange a little in that regard."

Nichols insists there have no discussions of a possible three-peat among the Roar squad, declaring: "Even the last two seasons we never really spoke about going for the title.

"We've always concentrated on a game at a time and we know that every other team has lifted its game in terms of recruitment going into the new season, so it's probably going to be the closest and toughest, A-league season ever."

Nichols came close to a switch to newly promoted Denmark outfit Randers in the off-season but has kept the door ajar for an overseas move, explaining: "I went there and trialled and it was disappointing nothing came of it but everything happens for a reason and I am now just looking forward to having another big year and giving the title another shot.

"I'm out of contract at the end of this season and the club is happy to just let me concentrate on playing and worry about other things down the track.

"I am in no rush in deciding what I want to do next year. If something pops up overseas I'll look at it if, and when, it happens."