Sydney FC’s Josh Brillante braced for Tim Cahill and Melbourne City

Sydney FC’s Josh Brillante is prepared for a Melbourne City backlash at ANZ Stadium tonight.

Sydney FC midfielder Josh Brillante. Picture: John Fotiadis

Josh Brillante says he is prepared for any backlash from Melbourne City as he prepares to renew his battle with Tim Cahill at ANZ ­Stadium tonight.

The Sydney FC midfielder can expect to have a little target on his back after his crunching tackle left Cahill with a bruised knee during City’s 1-0 FFA Cup final win a little over a week ago.

Having scored what was to be the winning goal, Cahill was forced off the field several minutes later and was a sorry sight as he hobbled around during the post-match ­celebrations.

The Socceroos legend didn’t say much about the tackle the next day, except: “I watched the game again ... it wasn’t the best tackle but it is what it is and we get on with it.”

While they play entertaining, dynamic football, City have also earned a reputation for being aggressive and hard-nosed and they clearly bullied the Sky Blues in the early stages of the cup final.

Brillante knows the game tonight is likely to follow the same lines, but believes he and teammates are strong enough to counter it.

“I am not worried at all,” Brillante said when it was suggested there might be some retribution, either from Cahill or his teammates. “The type of game I play, it happens to me every week. It is part and parcel of the game.”

In terms of City’s aggressive approach, Brillante said it wasn’t likely to affect the Sky Blues.

“We are just as aggressive, if not more,” he said. “They started very strongly against us in the cup but we will be ready to go this time. We can’t wait to get out there.

“Is it about revenge (for the loss)? It could look like that. But, it is a different competition. We are looking at it like it is a new game. Everyone is fresh and positive. We have had a good week at training.”

Brillante has been in outstanding form since returning to the A-League and linking with Sydney after an unsuccessful stint in Italy. He and midfielder partner Brandon O’Neill have been part of the reason for the club’s unbeaten nine-match A-League streak.

He was rewarded for his efforts yesterday when he was named the November NAB young player of the year nomination. It came a month after his teammate and housemate O’Neill was named in October. “We have formed a pretty good combination,” Brillante said. “It helps that we share the same accommodation, so we are always knocking around together, we are mates and feed off each other. It has certainly helped both our games.”

Brillante’s form will have caught the eye of Socceroos coach Ange Postecoglou and he would like nothing better than to get another crack at the national team.

“The aim is to play well in the A-League because Ange has shown he is not afraid to back the players here if they are going well,” he said. “So, I just need to concentrate on my job here, keep doing the right things and hopefully I will attract attention.”