Arnold: Team 'itching to play'

Arnold, who will come up against former Australia team-mate Tony Popovic, says 'everything is looking good' as he prepares his side to take on the competition's new boy on Saturday evening.

"We've got 20 players to choose from and I've got a few tough selections to make today," Arnold said.

"They have trained very well and like every team in the A-League, they're itching to play some competitive games and play for points."

Arnold also said he was impressed with Popovic's efforts in getting his Wanderers team together from scratch in a short time.

"Tony has come back from Crystal Palace where he had a fantastic job as assistant coach," Arnold said.

"I would have thought his future would have still been in England, but he's taken the big punt to come home and coach in the A-League.

"He hasn't had long to prepare the team, just 186 days to get the whole club together.

"It's a massive job and from watching them on DVD, he has done a fantastic job to date."

Mariners defender Pedj Bojic meanwhile says he is looking forward to the season starting - and to playing at the stadium where he made his professional debut for former NSL club Parramatta Power.

"The boys are in great shape," Bojic said. "We're all looking forward to it as everyone would be for their first game of the season. It's been a long pre-season and we've done what we've had to do to be ready for tomorrow's game.

"It (the Parramatta Stadium match) was my very first professional game when I was 18 years of age.

"I spent three years at Parramatta Stadium, and have a lot of good memories. I quite enjoyed playing at the stadium, I think it is one of the better ones going around.

"I'm really looking forward to going into the away change room, not the home one."