Sydney FC star Rhyan Grant is ready to unleash every bit of his pent-up energy when the defending A-League champions return to action after almost four months off.
The Sky Blues host Wellington Phoenix on Friday and the marauding right-back, renowned for his lung-busting runs, cannot wait to play again after the league was stopped due to the coronavirus.
"The first couple of weeks I was enjoying a little bit of down time, but after that I got a little bit antsy and wanted to be able to do stuff," Grant said.
"But obviously we were very limited in what we could do, so it was just about trying to kill some energy around the house, or going for a few walks and a few runs just to get that energy out.
"It was very annoying there for a while but we've been back into it now for three or four weeks, so it's back to business as usual and ready to get rid of all that energy on Friday night."
The Phoenix is one of only two teams with a slim chance of preventing Sydney from winning the Premiers Plate, the other is second-placed Melbourne City.
A Blues win will make it impossible for City to catch them and means Wellington can at best equal Sydney's points total while having a vastly inferior goal difference, with the Sky Blues having five more matches to play.
"We can win this game and pretty much have our hands on the premiership title, there's not much motivation needed," Socceroo Grant said.
Phoenix, mentored by former Sydney FC assistant coach Ufuk Talay, earned a home draw against the Sky Blues in their most recent clash.
Grant scored the winner in their previous encounter this season.
"It's always difficult coming up against an old coach," said Grant, who has scored three of his 10 goals for Sydney against Phoenix.
"With Uffy (Talay), he sort of knows how we play which can help him to nullify us."
Australian Associated Press
