Wanderers can cover outs: Popovic - Sydney Morning Herald

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Western Sydney coach Tony Popovic is confident his A-League club has the depth to cover three key omissions for Saturday's derby clash with Sydney FC, when the premiers' plate will be theirs for the taking.

If the Wanderers post an 11th straight win when they tackle the Sky Blues on the weekend, the fledgling side will be presented with the plate in front of their Parramatta Stadium faithful.

To do so, they will have to overcome the loss of German fullback Jerome Polenz (quad), winger Youssouf Hersi (suspension) and midfielder Aaron Mooy (knee).

Japanese star Shinji Ono is slated to return after missing the side's last-start 3-1 win over Melbourne Heart with hamstring tightness.

Popovic is yet to settle on the three changes to the starting XI that downed Heart last Saturday, but senses the inclusions will handle the pressure-cooker environment of a Sydney derby.

"I think everyone's played a part already (in the 2012/13 campaign) and whoever comes in, it won't be a first for them," Popovic said on Tuesday.

"They'll come in, they know how we want to play. They've tasted it. We've put trust in them throughout the year and we won't hesitate to do that again.

"...Whoever gets the opportunity will have our full backing. We've played players in the past when they've least expected it and they've done a great job, and even players that have come off the bench - they've never let us down.

"They're great professionals and they work extremely hard and they wait for an opportunity. I'm always pleased when they come in and take it."

Hersi will return on Friday week after serving a one-match ban, while Mooy could also take on Newcastle in the Wanderers' final game of the regular season.

It was expected Polenz would be sidelined for four weeks, but Popovic was hopeful he could return earlier.

"We thought it might be a long-term injury, but after reviewing the scans the medical staff are quite confident he could be back sooner rather than later," he said.

Ono trained briskly on Tuesday and it will be a surprise if he doesn't come up for Saturday's clash.