Sydney FC coach Ufuk Talay will not hold back against his former club Wellington - or emulate his predecessor at the Kiwi outfit and shout a few beers for any travelling fans.
Phoenix supporters hoping to grab a schooner or two at Allianz Stadium - as they famously did last weekend with another of their former coaches Marko Rudan - will be in for a rude awakening when Talay and his charges host the A-League Men leaders on Friday night.
"That's not happening," the Sky Blues mentor said on Wednesday when asked whether he would replicate Rudan's $878 shout after his Western Sydney Wanderers side lost 2-0 in New Zealand's capital two days before Christmas.
"My job is to win the game for the club I represent. As long as we win, no problem whatsoever."
Friday's clash will be Talay's first meeting with his former club since he crossed the Tasman earlier this year.
Having taken the reins in Wellington after Rudan left for Western United in 2019, Talay guided the Phoenix to third - their best-ever league finish.
His assistant and close friend Giancarlo Italiano took over at Wellington and has guided the New Zealanders to the top of the ladder after nine rounds.
Having spent four seasons with Italiano as his right-hand man, Talay is wary of falling into the trap of thinking he can predict what his rival coach will throw at him.
"He probably thinks the same of me ... that he knows me very well and what I like to do," the 47-year-old said.
"But we'll always come up with an idea and what we feel is best to get the outcome that's desired.
"He does change tactically defensively on what he believes is the best set-up. He's got them in a good place for that reason.
"It's going to be one of those games where we need to work hard to break them down but also be wary when we do have the ball."
The Sky Blues have weathered a stuttering start to their campaign, sitting in 10th with three wins and six defeats from their opening nine games.
The high-flying Phoenix, on the other hand, have suffered just one loss so far alongside six wins and two draws to sit three points clear of Melbourne Victory at the top.
Sydney will come into Friday night's clash in good spirits, though, following a thrilling 4-2 victory over Western United last time out.
In-form English winger Joe Lolley was the architect of that triumph, finding the back of the net in both halves and also notching an assist.
Lolley's efforts were bolstered by a goal apiece from Brazilian forward Fabio Gomes and defender Jack Rodwell as Sydney returned to winning ways after two successive defeats.
