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Port Kembla junior Corey Gameiro looks set to play a vital role in Sydney FC's FFA Cup clash with Melbourne City on Tuesday after several of his strike partners were ruled out.
Sky Blues coach Graham Arnold confirmed on Tuesday that Alex Brosque, Shane Smeltz and marquee man Marc Janko would be absent for the clash, with Bernie Ibini returning from Sunday's All Stars clash against Juventus.
Ibini played 70 minutes in the All Stars 3-2 loss, making Gameiro one of the freshest options in Sydney FC's stacked attacking arsenal.
The Wollongong-local has been in red-hot form throughout the pre-season, scoring a brace against English Premier League club West Ham United.
He and the Sydney FC squad, which also features Wollongong's Pedj Bojic and Matt Jurman, will travel to Ballarat to meet City for their round-of-32 clash.
Melbourne City boss John van 't Schip has virtually a full squad to pick from in the reborn club's first official game.
Gone are Heart's red and white stripes and under-achieving battler reputation.
Instead, van 't Schip's men will wear white and sky blue and the expectations that come with being league favourites. The Dutchman said there would be limited fanfare to announce City's arrival, though the on-pitch stakes have been raised.
"We know it's going to be the first game but I don't think we as a group are thinking about that," he said. "We're very focused on what we're doing and on the game."