Sydney FC coach Steve Corica reckons the week off will definitely help his A-League pacesetting side after a strong but testing start to their season.
The Sky Blues moved a point clear at the top on Saturday following a 1-1 draw at Newcastle, though they could lose first spot on Sunday to Perth or Adelaide, who clash at Coopers Stadium.
Under new coach Corica, Sydney have banked eight points from four games, three of them on the road.
They played three games in a week, including the FFA Cup final, before having an eight-day break into the Newcastle match.
All clubs will have next weekend off, when the A-League finally falls into line with most of the major domestic competitions around the world by suspending play in an international week.
"It will definitely help us because we've had a big couple of weeks with a lot of games," Corica said.
"We'll freshen them up again this week and give them that extra time off they need from recovering from hard games last week.
"We're pleased with the start we've had, we're unbeaten (in the league)."
The Sky Blues will have a couple of days off but many of them will still have a run next weekend in an intra-club hitout against their youth team.
Corica plans to pump more minutes into a few players, including Daniel De Silva, who has played little more than an hour in three substitute league and cup cameos since returning from a hamstring injury..
He reported Dutch marquee Siem de Jong was making good progress following the hamstring damage he suffered in round two.
"Siem's actually going very well. The injury was five to six weeks, so he's on track for that," Corica said.
"He's been running and kicking, but it's a hamstring, you don't want to rush him back to fail and get him injured again.
"We'll take our time and make sure he's fit when he comes back and raring to go."
Striker Adam Le Fondre didn't score for the first time in seven league and cup games but Corica said the Englishman was doing a fantastic job linking with his teammates.
Australian Associated Press
