Smeltz told The World Game he was happy to back himself to do the rest and come up with the necessary goals to keep himself in the XI.
The New Zealand international is the second-highest goal-scorer in A-League history, with 85, and sitting on the bench isn't what he is used to, but he handled it with good grace last season and made sure he was ready to contribute whenever he did get the chance. Smeltz still scored eight goals.
Janko is gone now. Sydney has signed another forward - Filip Holosko - from overseas in his place, but coach Graham Arnold has made the point that Holosko can play anywhere across the front line and that he had been earmarked to replace the also departed Bernie Ibini on the right.
Arnold has told his players the attacking spots were there to be filled by the players who showed they deserved them.
"I think that's all anyone wants, just to know that if you're fit, feeling well and performing then you've got a chance of playing," Smeltz said.
"So nothing changes for me, I'll go out and do my job the best I can and the good thing for me is that I've started the pre-season well. I'm feeling great, so we'll see where that takes me.
"'Arnie' has made it clear that the new player he has brought in up front can play in several roles. All he wants is depth in every position and by bringing in good foreigners as well as the good young players he has signed from other A-League clubs he's got a lot of depth in the squad again, already.
"I think it's a really good mix."
Smeltz took his training form on to the field in Sydney's first pre-season practice match, scoring twice - first from the penalty spot and then with a typically clinical finish from inside the box - in a 7-0 romp over Earlwood Wanderers at Leichhardt Oval on Wednesday.
Sydney's major young signing - Andrew Hoole, from Newcastle Jets - also played in the first trial. If Smeltz and Hoole can develop a good understanding it will be beneficial to both players and Smeltz said that was already happening.
"I've got big wraps on 'Hooley'," Smeltz said. "I think he's a fantastic young player with a great attitude and he's a really good pick-up for the club.
"I think Arnie saw great potential there and Hooley's one of those players he can develop into whatever he wants. He can play in a number of positions, which is great for us because if you get injuries or players who aren't performing then you've got cover in every position.
"He's got real natural ability, he loves to takes players on and he's creative as well, so I'm certainly looking forward to playing with him. I'm picking up on little things he does at training and probably vice versa, and now we can start working up a combination in pre-season games.
"Hooley's movement is good and he's got a great head on his shoulders for a young player and Arnie is the sort of coach who will be able to bring out the best in him."
Unless the goals inexplicably dry up for both, either Smeltz, 33, or Melbourne Victory veteran Archie Thompson, 36, will become the first player to score 100 goals in the A-League. Thompson has 89.
Smeltz said that while he's not obsessively ticking off the goals one by one, it would inevitably become interesting if there was little between the pair as they each got close to the century mark.
"Yeah, Archie's going around again and I'm not surprised by that at all," Smeltz said. "He had a good season last year and it would have been crazy for Melbourne Victory not to take him on again. He's good value for them and the league.
"Everyone seems to remind me about the battle with the goal tallies, so it's obviously something for people to keep an eye on. It's certainly getting interesting and I've got another two years at Sydney, so I just want to achieve that (100) for myself as well, which would be nice.
"I'm sure Archie would love to get to 100 goals as well, but you can't look too far down the track. You need to focus on what's immediately ahead of you and I'm doing that now. I'm sure Archie would be doing that as well."
