Jordan Elsey says Adelaide United has squad capable of the league and Cup double.

IT’S the season lift-off filled with spicy subplots and Jordan Elsey says Adelaide United won’t shy from taking down league and Cup double favourite Sydney FC.

IT’S the season lift-off filled with spicy subplots and Jordan Elsey says Adelaide United won’t shy from taking down league and Cup double favourite Sydney FC.

The Reds host Steve Corica’s Sky Blues in Friday week’s A-League opener then a return FFA Cup grudge final on October 30.

Defender Michael Marrone was suspended for four games after being red carded in the 115th minute of Adelaide’s 2-1 Cup final loss to Sydney last year.

“That game was tight, the home ground advantage comes in to play when it comes to late in a game,” recalled Elsey who found the net in Adelaide’s 0-2 semi-final win against Bentleigh Greens on Friday night.

“The home final will be great for us. No doubt it will be sold out again because Adelaide loves finals.”

The bitter aftermath of Marrone’s suspension for an altercation with a ball boy last November at Allianz Stadium has passed but not the desire to knock the big spending Blues off their perch.

“That is behind us but it is Sydney, we want to test ourselves against the best. Sydney FC have picked up quality players with outstanding CVs but it is about putting them together,” said Elsey, joking he might “call up his cousins” to act as ball boys against Sydney at Hindmarsh.

Recruits Siem de Jong, Trent Buhagiar and Adam Le Fondre scored in Sydney’s 3-0 semi-final win against Western Sydney Wanderers but the Reds aren’t fazed by Corica’s assembled talent.

“We respect them but we have camaraderie, want to be challenging for the title this year and I think we can. We concentrate on round one then the Cup grand final,” said Elsey, who watched United’s 2014 FFA Cup final triumph against Perth Glory ‘in the stands’ at Hindmarsh through injury.

“Our goal from the start was to make the final, we took it seriously and it showed scoring goals and not conceding.”

Adelaide’s off-season acquisitions have gelled seamlessly. Former Socceroo Ben Halloran slotted the opener against Bentleigh joining recruits Craig Goodwin (3) and German Mirko Boland (2) in Adelaide’s Cup goal tally.

Add fit marksman Baba Diawara teamed with Ken Ilso’s versatility and Adelaide is matching cashed up rivals though discerning spending and league leading fitness under Marco Kurz.

“All the new players that have come in and settled in very well. We need Baba fit, he is very important for us to hold the ball up, create chances and score goals,” said Elsey.

“Everyone is fighting for each other which builds camaraderie, competition and momentum.”

George Blackwood, covering for stomach bug victim Goodwin, provided Halloran’s assist at Kingston Heath which ‘showed the depth’ in Kurz’s 2018-19 squad noted Elsey.

“We don’t want to lose Goody for important games. I know he is feeling a lot better but it showed people can come in an do a job,” said Elsey.

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