Western Sydney coach Alen Stajcic yet to decide amount of game time star import Juan Mata will get in derby

Western Sydney Wanderers are taking a ‘one game at a time’ approach with their star import.

Wanderers coach Alen Stajcic is yet to decide how best to use star import Juan Mata in Saturday night’s derby against Sydney FC.

With already 27,500 tickets sold, a sellout crowd is expected at CommBank Stadium, where former Chelsea and Manchester United midfielder Mata, and Sydney’s prized off-season recruit – ex-Juventus and Bayern Munich winger Douglas Costa – are set to make their highly anticipated A-League debuts in the opening-round clash.

Mata, 36, has only played 10 minutes of competitive football since September last year, with Stajcic weighing up how much game time to give the veteran Spaniard not only this weekend, but throughout the season.

“He’s going to be an important piece of the puzzle,” the Wanderers boss said on Monday.

“Whether that’s for 30 minutes, 60 minutes, 90 minutes, it’s the same as every other player – I don’t know yet.

“Every game will evolve and become it’s own beast as we move along. We’re really just looking at it one game at a time.”

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Stajcic has been delighted with Mata’s all-round contribution since joining the Wanderers last month.

“He’s everything that we thought he was going to be, and more,” the former Central Coast Mariners and Perth Glory coach said.

“Going back to human qualities and values, he’s brought in a tremendous amount already.

“He’s so humble, He’s come in, and been willing to work hard and willing to learn, and been willing to spread his knowledge across the group.

“His humility in and around the team is exactly the kind of culture that (Sydney’s) western suburbs people really appreciate and enjoy, not just our playing group, but the whole community.

“And that’s not even talking about his qualities on the pitch. The leadership he brings on the pitch, the calmness, the composure, people learning from him in terms of his decision making and his movement, is exceptional.

“He’s really an inspiring figure to have in the group.”

Stajcic said Mata was part of a Wanderers squad good enough to win the A-League title.

“My expectation is to win the competition,” he said.

“The A-League is so tight, and with a bit of momentum and confidence, it helps any team.

“We’ve put 16 weeks of preparation in. I’m extremely happy with how that’s gone and pleased with how everyone’s responded ... but it only matters what comes out on the pitch on the weekend.

“To start (the season) with a bang is probably the most exciting feeling we’ll get. It’s crunch time now.”

Stajcic said first-choice goalkeeper Lawrence Thomas was an unlikely starter due to an ankle injury, while deputy gloveman Jordan Holmes is also battling an ankle problem, but remains in contention to play.

Western Sydney’s other two goalkeeping options are 19-year-old Taiga Harper, and Tristan Vidackovic, the 21-year-old custodian who played in the Australia Cup this year.

“They’ll all be fighting for that spot this weekend, just like all the on-field players are,” Stajcic said.