Adelaide United coach Carl Veart knows his unbeaten A-League Men outfit host Sydney FC at their lowest ebb.
But Veart is wary, saying it won't take much for the tide to turn for the Sky Blues in Saturday night's encounter at Coopers Stadium.
Sydney, scoreless in three consecutive losses to open their season, travel to Adelaide with Ufuk Talay installed as manager to replace the sacked Steve Corica.
"Any side, especially a big club like Sydney, they're very proud," Veart told reporters on Friday.
"And the players would be as well - and disappointed with their start.
"It won't take much for them to get back on their winning ways with the quality of players they have got."
Talay, the former Wellington Phoenix manager, will have just two training sessions in charge of the Sky Blues before playing table-toppers Adelaide.
The Reds (two wins, one loss) have slotted a league-high 10 goals and conceded just once in their initial three games, but will be without suspended attacking spark Nestory Irankunda.
The 17-year-old was red-carded after boiling over in Adelaide's 1-1 away draw with Melbourne Victory last weekend.
Irankunda, after enduring physical tactics from Victory all game, exploded in the 90th minute when grappled again.
Veart has spoken with the ALM's head of referees Nathan Magill about the treatment of his star teenager.
"They're private discussions ... and that's the way it stays," he said.
"We have had ongoing discussions, like all clubs have, with the league. It's about making sure everyone is on the same page.
"Yes, we were disappointed but when you look back over the course of the things, the referee tried his best and handled the situation mostly quite well."
Irankunda had started all three games for the Reds this campaign for the first time in his fledgling ALM career.
Veart said the dynamic attacker, expected to move to German giants Bayern Munich next season, was still learning to cope with attention - on and off the pitch.
"He's still learning the game and there's a lot for him to learn, not just what happens on the pitch but what happens off the pitch as well," Veart said.
"We're still working with him.
"In a way it could be a blessing for him to have a bit of a rest.
"He played big minutes in those first three games, it has taken a physical toll on him but also, as well, a mental toll.
"It takes a lot for him to get himself up and prepare mentally for games."
Another eye-catching product from Adelaide's youth factory, 19-year-old Bernado, the son of Reds legend Cassio, is favoured to start on Irankunda's wing against the Sky Blues.
