In the build-up to each new campaign the conversation about where Sydney FC's pre-season trips and trial fixtures will be played always comes up.
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And Rhyan Grant always throws in his two cents.
"You go all over the place in pre-season and you play some regional games and I always chuck out ideas and say we should go to the central west," Grant said.
This weekend Grant gets his chance.
The Canowindra product, who also spent many years living and playing football in Bathurst, will head to Dubbo later this week before his Sky Blues take on the Newcastle Jets in an A-League pre-season fixture at Apex Oval on Saturday.
And Grant has promised his side will entertain.
"Obviously it's coming to the end of pre-season so we want to put a performance together," he said.
"But we want to be more ruthless in front of goal and take our chances.
"We've been playing well and getting in good positions in pre-season but not taking those chances.
"We want to score as many goals as possible, like all teams would say, and that's the most crucial thing."
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Grant heads back west as Sydney FC's current longest serving player, with the 2019/20 season to be the right-back's 11th in sky blue.
He's been part of three championship wins, the most recent of those last season, and he's now part of the Australian national squad after making his debut for the Socceroos last year.
But something he doesn't get too do all that often is head back to country NSW.
The Jets may have organised this weekend's game in Dubbo but it's one Grant is eager to make the most of.
"It's a little further away than Bathurst or Canowindra but I've played up there a lot and used to always go there for district competitions," he said of Dubbo.
"I don't get back as often as I'd like, and obviously family and parents come up and see me and watch me play but this weekend I suppose I get to kill two birds with one stone by playing and catching up with some friends. It will be good."
But the trip isn't just a chance to reminisce about his days as one of the region's top juniors.
Saturday might be a pre-season hit-out but with the new A-League season now less than a month away the defending premiers are starting to move into top gear.
As Grant alluded too, goals are the focus.
The Sky Blues have shown glimpses of their best in recent weeks but they've also come up short, with the 2-0 loss to Brisbane in last month's FFA Cup clash highlighting that.
Grant said playing against a fellow A-League side on Saturday is the perfect chance for his side to "play the way we want to play" and coach Steve Corica will also be eager to see a strong performance given its his team's last match before the round one clash with Adelaide on October 11.
I'd love if the crowd got behind me, being from the central west.
- Rhyan Grant
The bulk of the squad will be making the trip to Dubbo - new striker Kosta Barbarouses is in doubt as his wife is expected to give birth in the coming days - and Grant is hopeful to see more sky blue than the blue and red colours of the Jets in the Apex Oval crowd.
"Everyone should draw some attention but I'd love if the crowd got behind me, being from the central west," Grant said.
"Hopefully there's lots of Sydney FC scarves and hats and they can ignore the Jets side of things.
"But the game itself will be really good."
Grant is certain to stand out at Dubbo as he's still sporting the mullet which has made him something of a cult hero with fans.
As well as that, he's guaranteed to be bombing forward from right-back to join in his side's attacking raids.
"The way we've played under Steve and before that with 'Arnie' [Graham Arnold] is pretty attractive and we've set some records as well," Grant said, his side having scored a stunning 64 goals in the 2017/18 campaign.
"From my perspective, it's a system that suits me. I'm a defender by trade but I get a licence to get forward and join in the attack and everyone loves that.
"It really suits me so it's happy days."
The Jets head to Dubbo having suffered a disappointing FFA Cup quarter-final loss to Adelaide on Tuesday night.
Kick-off at Apex Oval is 3pm, Saturday.
Tickets are still available from 123tix.com.au.
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Nick Guthrie
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
