Midfielder Zach Clough has urged Adelaide United to pounce on a travel-weary Melbourne City and lay down a marker for their A-League Men campaign.
United are coming off an impressive season-opening 3-0 win over champions Central Coast ahead of taking on City at Coopers Stadium on Sunday.
City lost to Western United 2-1 first up before travelling to Thailand in midweek to face Buriram United in the Asian Champions League.
Having won that game 2-0, City will travel directly to Adelaide, where the Reds are ready to take advantage of any travel hangover.
"It's only game two, but it's a huge game because they won the league last year," Clough said.
"I know they were beaten by Central Coast in the final, but they are always going to be one of the teams to beat in this league.
"They've signed a lot of good players (but) it's a good time to play them.
"To go out and beat Central Coast at the weekend was massive ... because they beat us in the finals last year.
"So to beat them was a marker straightaway, because they're still a strong side and they'll be one of the better teams in the league this year.
"If we can go and beat Melbourne City that's a real marker for the league."
Former Nottingham Forest and Bolton Wanderers midfielder Clough has been impressed by stellar performances from teen sensation Nestor Irankunda as well as the form of fellow young guns Jonny Yull and Panashe Madanha.
"What (Irankunda) has is very special," Clough said.
"The power he possesses, the speed - it's frightening, really. He has everything to go to the very top."
Clough was confident new-look Adelaide could make their mark this year.
"I'm really excited. I feel like we can do some special things this year," he said.
"Even in training every day, I enjoy playing with Jonny, Nestor, all the senior boys.
"The training is really good at the minute and we're playing a different way. It's been really good and it's exciting.
"We're still early days. It's round one. We won the game, and we can keep building, keep improving.
"For it to be round one and play that well, it's really exciting - we can only get better."
