Sydney FC's Alessandro Del Piero poses problem for Melbourne Heart Does he, or does he not dive? Sydney's Alessandro Del Piero Photo: Getty Images It wouldn't be soccer if there wasn't a huge debate about the A-League's biggest star, Alessandro Del Piero. Is he a diver, as some claim, or merely the smartest guy out on the pitch? Is he able to influence referees unduly because of his status, or is he simply winning free kicks because opposition defenders can find no way to stop him except by fouling him? Melbourne fans will get their first chance to see Del Piero this season when he joins his Sydney teammates to take on Heart at AAMI Park on Friday night. The mood in the Sydney camp will be more relaxed this weekend after the 3-2 triumph over Melbourne Victory in that bizarre match at Allianz Stadium in which Del Piero had the definitive say. It was he who drew that ugly, sprawling, stupid foul from Victory defender Pablo Contreras to win the deciding penalty. Of course, Del Piero stepped forward with his trademark confidence to score from the spot to give the Sky Blues their winning goal. It's doubtful if anyone who has played in the A-League has shielded the ball as well as Del Piero, who turned 39 last Saturday night. He is not a big man - at 174 centimetres there were a few jockeys in action during Cup week who stood taller - but he is blessed with great balance and core strength. That allows him to stand his ground, planting himself so that he can ward off the physical threat of an opponent or, if needs be, go to ground if the opponent is clumsy enough to push him or foul him. Yes, it can look at times as if he is playing the referee. And it is easy to get fed up with the sheer number of times he appears to be sprawling on the turf. But the reality is that such gamesmanship, such "professionalism," such craftiness, is all part of the game. In many soccer cultures it is a highly prized skill, one to be admired. It's not the case in Australia, which is why the current debate about Del Piero's propensity to go to ground has gathered weight. Hayden Foxe, Melbourne Heart's assistant coach, says it is important to concentrate completely if a defender is picking up a player like Del Piero. "You can't give him too much space, otherwise he will take control of the ball ... But you can't get too close either and, say, grab his shirt or shoulder because he will then just roll you and accelerate away," Foxe said. He is very strong, so he can shield the ball really well ... And his sense of positioning is tremendous - and his ability to anticipate what a defender's going to do. He's very smart and intelligent. You can't give him any chance to control the situation, because he will.