He knows it will be a difficult task, but Helensburgh’s Aaron Calver remains confident he can break back into the ladder-leading Sydney FC line-up.
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A niggling injury kept the 20-year-old sidelined to start the campaign, but a fit-again Calver is hopeful of playing his part in the Sky Blues title bid.
“It will be hard with the way the boys are playing but I am confident that eventually I can force my way in,” Calver, who is in the last year of his contract, said.
“Once I get there is it is about trying to play good regularly and maintaining.”
The Sky Blues defence has been watertight to start the season and have let in just three goals through eight matches, with Wollongong’s own Matt Jurman and veteran Alex Wilkinson in the heart of their defence.
Wilkinson, who has been capped 16 times for Australia, joined in the off-season and his experience at the back hasn’t gone unnoticed by Calver.
“He has been very good for us so I just try and watch what he does at training,” Calver said.
“His consistency is good so I will just try and do things like he does and that should help me in the long term.”
Sydney FC are four points clear at the top of the competition and will be looking to secure their second Premiers Plate this season before targeting finals.
“We have got the players and the team to go all the way,” Calver said.
“Team confidence is high.
“We don’t want to look too far ahead but I have got no doubt that we can be title contenders especially if we keep going the way we are.”
While Calver hopes to be active on the pitch during Sydney’s title push, he is staying just as busy off it.
The defender is midway through a business degree online through the University of New England.
“I want to have a back up plan so once I do finish I have something to fall back on,” Calver said.
“I am just ticking away and do as much as I can while also trying to play my best.”