Danny Vukovic can't pick a Melbourne derby winner, but the former Melbourne Victory goalkeeper warns it'd be unwise to write off Kevin Muscat's men.
More than a year has passed since Victory last tasted cross-town triumph, having already fallen twice this season including round two's 4-1 A-League humiliation.
It's fuelled talk John Van `t Schip's FFA Cup champions are the new top dogs in town.
But Vukovic, now between the posts for league leaders Sydney FC, had a message for those sensing a power shift in the Victorian capital.
"You can never write off Victory," Vukovic told AAP.
"They've got a quality squad, a great club with great supporters and they showed last week (against Western Sydney) just how dangerous they can be.
"Everyone was writing Besart Berisha off, then he scores a hat trick.
"That's the type of team they have, they can really turn it on and they've shown in a few games already this season that when they get it right they can be devastating."
Given current form, Saturday's AAMI Park blockbuster will be closely contested.
City are second on the table with 18 points from 10 games while Victory are a point adrift in third, but with a game in hand.
The former are stacked in attack, counting Bruno Fornaroli, Fernando Brandan and Tim Cahill among their arsenal.
Yet Victory have found form and frontman Besart Berisha will be itching to add to his hat trick against the Western Sydney Wanderers, while winger Marco Rojas could do irreparable damage if fit.
"I don't think you can choose either way," Vukovic said.
"It's great to see City doing well and that rivalry growing between those two clubs and they match up really well all over the park.
"You look at their strikers -- Fornaroli, Berisha -- two wonderful strikers and arguably the two best in the league.
"We're [Sydney] obviously hoping for a draw, and hopefully they batter each other a little bit."