Sydney FC to flaunt Del Piero in west

Buoyed by massive interest in the Italian World Cup hero and forced to shift its fixture with Glory due to a scheduled resurfacing of the pitch at its home ground Allianz Stadium, Sydney has agreed to face the A-League grand finalist at the larger venue.

The move is seen as an opportunity to capitalise on the "Del Piero factor" in an area associated with the Sky Blues' crosstown rival Western Sydney Wanderers by drawing a big crowd on Sunday 28 October.

The match comes a week after the city's first ever A-League derby between the Wanderers and Sydney at Parramatta Stadium.

The Wanderers have resisted calls for the derby to be moved to ANZ Stadium, citing an obligation to please the majority of its fans who want Parramatta Stadium to become their established home ground.

Sydney however is keen to tap into the massive multicultural market in and around the city's west as the battle for the hearts and minds of local fans intensifies.

The club wants to promote Del Piero, who helped Italy win the 2006 FIFA World Cup and Juventus the 1996 UEFA Champions League, as a superstar of the world game.

"The Del Piero signing is not just a celebration for the Italian community," Sydney chief executive Tony Pignata said.

"Del Piero should appeal to every sports lover because he is a genuine football superstar and this is one reason we are taking him, Brett Emerton and the team to Sydney's west for the Perth match."

ANZ Stadium, which hosted the historic World Cup qualifier between Australia and Uruguay in 2005, sees the event as a feast of football.

"Sydney FC and ANZ Stadium will be engaging the European community in the city's west to turn the match between Sydney and Perth in October into a celebration of European football culture," ANZ Stadium media manager Arthur Stanley said.