Ben Garuccio says he is hoping to see a packed out Adelaide Oval as Adelaide United host old foes Melbourne Victory in the Original Rivalry on Friday night.
The Reds are unbeaten to begin the Hyundai A-League season, collecting four points from their opening two games.
Garuccio said the team are pleased with the start and hoping to consolidate their form ahead of Friday’s blockbuster.
“Speaking to the boys before the season started with the two tough away games I think the boys said anything more than four points we’d be very happy with,” he said.
“So buzzing to get the win last week (against Brisbane Roar) and obviously looking to push on this week.”
Garuccio also revealed the 2-1 win over the Roar has given the squad confidence that their gruelling pre-season is paying dividends.
He'll always be a Red at heart, our Benny will… especially against Victory.
? Tickets: https://t.co/0T2fTT2TXW pic.twitter.com/939D98jTpM
— Adelaide United FC (@AdelaideUnited) October 17, 2017
“That’s what we’ve been working so hard for (during) pre-season,” he said.
“All the boys are just buzzing to be out there, we haven’t been starting our games the best but that’s something we have to work on.
“And it just shows the grit and the fitness we have been working on all pre-season to come through with the three points.”
Meanwhile, the Victory are winless to begin the season, having suffered back-to-back defeats.
However, Friday’s match against Kevin Muscat’s men will be the side’s toughest test to date.
And despite the Victory’s slow start, Garuccio said the most important thing was to focus on themselves.
“You can look at it how you want to look at it,” he stated.
“You can say that they’ve (Melbourne) lost two so they might bounce back or you can say that they’ve lost two so they might be low on confidence.
“It depends how you look at it, but for us it’s about what we are going to do.
“If we play our game I think we’ll walk away with the three points and that’s the most important thing.”
Our boys enjoyed a different view of @TheAdelaideOval ahead of the #ADLvMVC clash this Friday. #AUFC
? BE THERE: https://t.co/0T2fTT2TXW pic.twitter.com/qJQeacFS9l
— Adelaide United FC (@AdelaideUnited) October 16, 2017
The Adelaide local grew up as a Reds supporter and said he cannot wait to be involved in another Original Rivalry and was confident of seeing a massive crowd file through the gates of the historic venue.
“It’s very special for me, I remember when I was a young kid I used to look forward to this game,” he said.
“And getting amongst it and giving them a bit of stick so now to be out there it’s the same it’s a massive game.
“Obviously Adelaide Oval, Friday night under lights you couldn’t really ask for a better setting.
“So hoping to see a lot of fans out there, we have had a good start to the year so hopefully they can get behind us.”
Having played in both the Melbourne Derby with Melbourne City and now in the Original Rivalry, the defender admitted both are just as intense.
“They’re the exact same, it’s still a massive game and that hatred is just as big between the two Clubs, the two states,” he explained.
“It’s a really good spectacle, it’s a really good game to play in and really looking forward to it.”
Adelaide United host Melbourne Victory in Round 3 of the Hyundai A-League 2017/18 season on Friday, 20 October at Adelaide Oval. Kick-off is at 7.20pm ACDT.
