A-League's big guns ready to fire

Sydney FC's Alessandro Del Piero, Newcastle United's Emile Heskey and Western Sydney Wanderers' Shinji Ono came together for the first time at the league's official season launch in Sydney on Tuesday.

And while questions remain over their match fitness having all arrived in the past two weeks, the players were talking up their chances of making their debuts this weekend.

Italian great Del Piero is upbeat about Saturday's match away to Wellington Phoenix after playing 70 minutes in an intra-club training match last week.

"I have to take time with the team but at the moment it (my fitness) is good," Del Piero said.

"I'm OK for the first match and I want to improve day by day.

"The 70 minutes I played last week is good news for me and for the team.

"We will have to see what happens with the flight to Wellington but I'm OK, I feel good, and this is the most important thing."

Sydney coach Ian Crook said he would wait until later in the week to decide on Del Piero's involvement against Phoenix but warned he would not take any risks with the 37 year old.

Former England international Heskey only arrived in Australia last Friday and appears most likely to come off the bench in Sunday's home clash with Adelaide United.

The former Liverpool striker admitted his fitness was not at the level of his Jets team-mates but said it would not take long to get up to speed and was ready to go.

Japan star Ono arrived on Monday but has already had two sessions with his Wanderers teammates and said he'd be up to playing in Saturday's match against Central Coast Mariners at Parramatta Stadium.

"I want to start. I'm ready," Ono said.

FFA held simultaneous season launches in Sydney and Melbourne on Tuesday and also announced Korean motor company Hyundai had extended its sponsorship of the league until 2016.

"In every one of the seven previous seasons, the A-League has changed and grown with new stars, new clubs, ever-increasing quality of play and new highs in entertainment value," FFA CEO Ben Buckley said.

"With marquee players of the highest quality, a new club representing the oldest region for football in Australia and an impressive line-up of players and coaches I can say without any doubt that season eight will be like nothing we've seen before."

The first round of the A-League kicks off with the Melbourne derby between Victory and Heart on Friday 5 October. On Saturday Wellington Phoenix takes on Sydney FC while Western Sydney Wanderers makes its league debut against reigning premier Central Coast Mariners.

On Sunday, new look Newcastle Jets taking on AFC Champions League quarter-finalist Adelaide United before the weekend's action concludes with Perth Glory hosting Brisbane Roar at Patersons Stadium.