Sydney FC are confident a new resilience and steely edge under interim boss Patrick Kisnorbo can hold them in good stead for huge semi-final dates with premiers Newcastle.
The Sky Blues claimed a smash-and-grab 1-0 win over Kisnorbo's former club Melbourne Victory on Saturday night at AAMI Park and are unbeaten in five as they prepare to take it to the high-flying Jets next Saturday in Sydney, then in Newcastle the following week..
"Obviously being positive, being resilient, working hard, these are the things I had wanted to add in quickly, because it doesn't require any talent, just trying to change your mindset," Kisnorbo said.
"And, hopefully, after tonight they have that belief."
Midfielder Paul Okon Jnr believes the attitude of Kisnorbo, who was named interim boss on March 24 following Ufuk Talay's departure, has rubbed off on the squad.
"You can see the difference on the field in terms of our effort and our fighting spirit," Okon Jnr said.
"As a team, we were able to do that today, and that's what made a difference in the game."
Defender Ben Garuccio previously played under championship winner Kisnorbo at Melbourne City and isn't surprised.
"It's very simple, very straightforward -- work hard, outfight the other team," Garuccio said.
"Don't get me wrong. We want to play beautiful football -- there wasn't a lot of it tonight -- we want to play great football.
"But in the short time he's had, the biggest thing he's tried to instill is that hard work, that belief, fighting for one another. And we proved that tonight, which was good."
Okon Jnr has plenty of belief Sydney are capable of doing something special this finals series.
"Those type of performances prove what type of team we are," he said.
"I didn't need that performance to believe that we can do something special. I think all the boys in the team believe we can do something special.
"It's just putting that into training and trying to put that into the game. We were able to do that today, and hopefully we can take that into the next game."
Garuccio is ready for the huge clashes with the Jets. "I've said it time and time again, we've got one of the strongest squads in the whole league, so we've got to show it," he said.
"And this is the time to do it."
