Arnold had been trying to play down the weight of his first face-off with the Mariners for months, claiming it to be "just another game for me". But as the mind games began, he called off a media opportunity on Tuesday at which the two men were meant to speak together.

It was Arnold who paved the way for Moss to join the A-League coaching ranks - making him his deputy after a spell at Manly United - and they enjoyed tremendous success at the Mariners, taking the competition's minnows to a championship, a grand final and a premier's plate. Arnold's comments before Sydney FC training on Friday are sure to have raised plenty of eyebrows up the highway.

"I know how Mossy thinks. I already know their starting line-up. I already know their system. He's got no secrets," Arnold said. "Mossy has got his style, it's totally different to the style of play that I had. It's a totally different system."

Moss was more than happy for his former mentor to go around making big statements. "If he's going to say that then he's got no excuse not to beat us. End of story," he said. "If he knows the starting line-up, he knows the system and he knows what I'm thinking, then he has to go out and beat us."

Declaring Arnold the "master of mind games", Moss said he wasn't going to be swayed by any verbal volleys in the build-up to their first dugout bout at A-League level. "I've sat next to 'Arnie' when he's been on the phone hundreds of times and he's said exactly the same about opposition teams," Moss said. "I'm not going to fall for his mind games. We've prepared beautifully for this game. We've had an extended break, we're fresh, we've focused on where we needed to improve. That's been our focus as a team, that's been my focus as a coach and our only aim this week is to get the win."

Arnold reckons that once the first ball is kicked at Allianz Stadium, the past will be quickly forgotten. "There's no emotion at all. It's just another game for me. We're going for three points on Sunday," he said. "Obviously I had a great three years and that but on the club side of it, there's nothing in common. They've got a new owner, they've got a new CEO ... For me, it's just another game this weekend and I'm looking forward to it.

"It's just like [playing] Western Sydney Wanderers. There's three points at stake. I've got a lot of feelings for that club and I think I gave the Mariners three great years as well and brought them silverware. I have respect for their fans and I know they have respect for me."

Asked if he was worried that he taught Moss too much, Arnold replied that he hoped his protege picked up a swag of tips.

"No, not at all. If anything I hope he did learn something from me. But you've got to put sentiment aside," he said. "We're good friends but it's about us getting three points and I do know - I've put our boys on warning here - any team that has Nick Montgomery, Zac Anderson, Josh Rose, John Hutchinson and Mitchell Duke in its starting line up, they're a threat. I know those guys will go out on the weekend and give everything they've got.

"We don't change anything at all. My style is quite different to Phil's. Phil has built has own team and his own heavy influence on his squad. We [only] worked together; Ernie Merrick is coming up against Melbourne Victory this week. That's the way it is for coaches. It's a business."

Sydney striker Shane Smeltz has recovered from a groin strain but will be used off the bench, if at all. "After from Matt Jurman [out for six weeks with a torn meniscus] we've got a full squad," Arnold said. "Smeltzy is back, we had to take our time with him. He came off a tough year in Perth, we knew that it would take a bit of time to get him fit and strong again after the season he had last year. He's looking great at training and he's a great option to have to select for the game on the weekend."