Alessandro Del Piero a chance to play in Sydney A-League derby despite injury Sydney FC star Alessandro Del Piero with coach Frank Farina. Sydney FC are weighing up the idea of giving Alessandro Del Piero a place on the bench in Saturday's sold-out Sydney derby despite the Italian battling a calf injury. The 38-year-old came off after 30 minutes of last weekend's 4-0 loss to Brisbane Roar and wasn't expected to play but coach Frank Farina is toying with the idea of Del Piero being a potential match-winner in the second half. Though it still seems remote Del Piero will play, Farina flagged the possibility of a surprise appearance. It's most probably a 50-50, if not a bit less. We'll see how he goes obviously today and tomorrow. I don't think he'll be able to start - at best he'll be able to come off the bench," Farina said at training on Thursday. I think the first game, against Newcastle, he was outstanding and unfortunately picked up that strain early on. A player of his quality will always give a boost to the team and the crowd as well. The Sky Blues trained at Allianz Stadium on Thursday without Del Piero for the first hour but he made an appearance later after receiving treatment on his calf from the club's medical staff. Regardless of whether he front in this encounter, club officials have hinted they would be unlikely to risk him for the subsequent trip to Perth given the lengthy travel involved. The only definite out is Pedj Bojic, who also injured his calf, with Rhyan Grant set to come in at right back. For the derby at least, the Sky Blues will have to re-organise their front half, particularly who will play in the lone striker's role that Del Piero has recently occupied. Joel Chianese would be the logical choice after spending the first two matches as an attacking right-sided midfielder. A rejigging of the front third could then mean Richard Garcia moves to the right, with the returning Yairu Yau or Ali Abbas on the left and Nicky Carle moving into the No.10 role. "I think with Nicky and Richie and Joel, who has been doing reasonably well, we've got the ammunition there," Farina said. Nicky is a natural playmaker and we'll push him a little bit more forward into that natural number 10 for him. Hopefully a lot of the spark will come from him. Brett Emerton's hopes about starting his first game of the season were dampened by Farina, who suggested his domestic marquee wasn't at peak fitness despite playing 60 minutes as Del Piero's replacement last week. "He's struggling a little bit as well so we'll asses him both today and tomorrow to see what his situation will be," Farina said. The three derbies were split with a win each and a draw last season and while the Wanderers are winless this season, Sydney are bracing for a rugged encounter. "They're a good side and well-organised defensively, as they showed last year," Farina said. They've got some players in there that can create and give you that bit of brilliance. It's a derby and while it's not a fight, it will be hotly contested. Meanwhile, as the last permanent local coach of the Socceroos, Farina said he was pleased to see another Australian, Ange Postecoglou, get the job, declaring him the "most popular choice for a long time." "I think he'll do a good job, as long as he sets his house out the way he wants it, and I think the FFA will allow him to do that," he said. I don't think there's any pressure on him for the World Cup and there shouldn't be. The Asian Cup [in 2015] will be the goal and World Cup will be a great experience and preparation for him to make his stamp. Farina said he'd already given Postecoglou his best advice about how succeed in the biggest coaching job in the country. "He's his own man but I did have a brief exchange with him about bringing your own people in," he said. But he's not silly, he's already planning to do that. You've got to surround yourself with people you can trust and work with and who will be on the same page with as you.