Shire footballers get the chance to shine in Asian Champions League dead rubber

However for Sky Blues fringe players like Sutherland Shire's Cameron Devlin and Jacob Tratt.

Sydney's hopes of reaching the knockout phase were dashed earlier this month, making this game little more than a nuisance that will briefly interrupt their A-League grand final celebrations.

Sky Blues coach Steve Corica will be tired, travel-weary and possibly hungover but he'll be forced to return to work for what will be the deadest of dead rubbers.

But there is a lot riding on it for the reigning J. League champions, who must win to remain a chance of finishing in Group H's top two.

With a delayed flight meaning the team only arrived back in Sydney on Monday night from their win over Perth Glory, Corica will be forced into sending fringe players and teenagers out as likely cannon fodder for Kawasaki.

Corica joked in his post-match press conference that his first-team players would probably be "drunk" if they were wheeled out to play again.

It is hard to envisage any of those who were involved in the grand final taking part, other than substitutes Anthony Caceres and Reza Ghoochannejhad, the scorer of the winning penalty in the shootout.

Paulo Retre, Daniel De Silva and reserve goalkeeper Alex Cisak - who were not used off the bench - are the only other first-team players likely to be involved from the travelling group.

The rest will be youth prospects such as Devlin, Luke Ivanovic, Joel King, and Liam McGing, as well as senior players like former Sutherland Sharks captain, Jacob Tratt, as well as Mitch Austin who did not make the match-day squad in Perth.

The rest of Sydney's players will continue toasting the club's fourth championship.

For the fans who make it out to Jubilee Stadium it will be a chance to celebrate the team's Perth success and soak in what will be a bizarrely brilliant night of no pressure football for their team.

with Vince Rugari