Sydney FC coach Graham Arnold has declared his players will be determined rather than pressured, as they try to salvage a season of domestic underachieving by winning a pivotal Asian Champions League (ACL) football game.
The Sky Blues have missed out on the A-League finals after going 11 straight games without a win, but top their ACL group heading into Tuesday's home clash with South Korean side Pohang Steelers.
"I know we haven't had a good A-League. The players want to pay the fans back. I want to pay them back," Arnold said on Monday.
"We have underachieved in the A-League this year but at the same time I've had a focus in trying to deliver to Sydney FC fans something they've never had in the history of the club and that's making the last 16 for the first time in the club's history."
A win would keep Sydney at least two points clear at the top with two rounds to go, but a loss could drop them to as low as third.
Although plenty is riding on the result of the game, Arnold was adamant his players weren't feeling the pressure to keep the club's season alive.
"It won't put more pressure, it will probably put more determination," Arnold said.
"The pressure every game I put on myself and I demand from the players is always the same.
"If we didn't have this opportunity we'd be finished next week against Perth Glory and we've obviously had a disappointing season, but we have an opportunity to salvage it."
Arnold felt Sydney's domestic campaign had been cruelled by their 10 draws rather than their nine losses, as he believed they should have won eight of those matches.
With Sunday's Super Rugby game between NSW Waratahs and Melbourne Rebels churning up the Allianz Stadium pitch and more rain on Monday, Arnold believed a heavy surface could advantage his side against an opposition dealing with the fatigue from long distance travel.
"I don't watch rugby but I watched it yesterday," Arnold said.
"I was cringing watching those rucks and mauls and seeing what damage was getting done to the field knowing that we've got a game on it tomorrow night, but that's the way it is.
"Hopefully it will be an advantage to us. It's a heavy field that takes a lot out of the players' legs."
Arnold said he had around 11 fresh players who didn't play against Adelaide last weekend and a full strength squad to choose from apart from injured captain Alex Brosque.