Sydney mentally down but home ground will lift us – Lavicka

Sydney FC coach Vitezslav Lavicka admits his team may be down a touch in the mentality stakes but says the fact they are playing at home this weekend will help them.

The Sky Blues host the high-flying Wellington Phoenix in Saturday’s A-League Preliminary Final and although Lavicka understands his players may be mentally drained, the Sydney Football Stadium crowd and a Grand Final berth at stake is likely to lift them.

“Now we are a little bit mentally maybe down after the game against Melbourne, they are up, more confident than us but we're playing a home game," Lavicka told reporters on Thursday.

"Mentally takes a bit more time but, as I said, we had a talk yesterday and this morning with the players individually and I see in the players that they still have a clear intention and big desire to qualify for the grand final.

"We lost the chance to play the grand final at home last game against Melbourne but we're still hoping to play the grand final.

"We know that Wellington Phoenix is playing very well this last part of the season and we expect a very tough game."