Sydney FC defender Ryan McGowan says former Socceroos coach Ange Postecoglou has got Yokohama F.Marinos playing a formidable style, but the Sky Blues aren't scared of the Japanese champions.
Postecoglou guided Yokohama to the J-League title last December, but Wednesday's home game against the Sky Blues represents the first time he will lead them in an Asian Champions League match against an Australian side.
Centre half McGowan knows Postecoglou's style well having won most of his 20 international caps during his tenure.
"It's just very difficult to try and defend when it does click," McGowan said.
"He's said it numerous times, he enjoys the start when he goes to teams and everyone doubts him and everyone is unsure of how they are playing.
"But once he does get them playing the style he wants they can become quite formidable and I think that's what he's got this Yokohama team to be playing.
"But at the same time they are not unbeatable or a team that we're scared of.
"They will probably be one of the best teams in Asia this season and it's exactly what we want to be."
McGowan joked he didn't want to give away any secrets about Sydney's tactics for the game "because Ange will probably be reading all the Aussie media to try and find out what we're doing."
"We were able to watch their game last week and we feel we've noticed areas that we want to exploit," McGowan said.
"Obviously their strength is in terms of what they do with the ball.
"We've got a strategy that we've come up with and we've been working on (to) hopefully nullify what they do with the ball, but also be dangerous when we have it."
The postponement of the Sydney derby and their first ACL home game against China's Shanghai SIPG means the match fitness advantage they would normally enjoy at the start of the ACL against Asian teams just starting their season may be diluted.
Yokohama have played two games since Sydney last took to the field.
"It (the break) has given us a good opportunity to have a few more extra proper football sessions leading into the game," McGowan said.
He expects Postecoglou's presence in the ACL will generate more local interest in a competition which has struggled to draw big crowds.
Australian Associated Press
