Sydney FC's doctors and coaches will have the final say, but Milos Ninkovic is still trying to force the hand of those who will determine his fate by declaring he will play through any pain barrier to face Western Sydney Wanderers on Saturday night.
The reigning A-League player of the year is in a race against time to be declared fit to feature in the Sydney derby after missing the Sky Blues' past two games with a calf injury. While Ninkovic's self-diagnosis is that he is fit and ready to play against the Wanderers at ANZ Stadium, he accepts the decision from Graham Arnold to select him will likely be a conservative approach taking into account the risk of an aggravation.
Ninkovic rejoined the team in regular training on Wednesday and although he isn't at peak condition, he's prepared to play through any discomfort to help Sydney FC reclaim bragging rights at the expense of their fiercest rivals.
"If the coach and medical staff say I am ready to play, I will give 100 per cent, even more. When you start to play these types of game, even if you are in pain, after two minutes you just forget it," he said. "I am ready, I am prepared to play. I feel good, there's no pain but sometimes you need to be ready a 100 per cent to play a derby because a derby game is always physical."
Sydney FC are cautious of facing a wounded animal on Saturday night with Western Sydney Wanderers' second from last place on the table being no indication of the test they pose at ANZ Stadium. The Wanderers fell apart late in the match in last week's 2-0 defeat at home to Brisbane Roar, but Ninkovic expects there to be little resemblance come the derby on Saturday night.
Western Sydney have gone two months without a win, failing to add an opening round victory to their account this season. They enter the derby on the back of two successive defeats. From Ninkovic's experience of rivalry matches in Ukraine, Serbia and now Sydney, he's learned to pay little attention to the form guide.
"It's a different game," Ninkovic said. "On Saturday they will be a different team. Everyone in a derby gives more than 100 per cent."
