AAP


Sydney FC are planning for life without defender Tiago Calvano who faces an A-League disciplinary panel hearing on Wednesday for making contact with a referee.


The Brazilian is currently under a two-game ban for striking Archie Thompson in the Sky Blues' 3-2 win over Melbourne Victory in round five at Allianz Stadium.


And on Wednesday evening he will front the panel charged with making contact with referee Peter Green in the same fixture.


The 32-year-old faces the possibility of a lengthy stint on the sideline after then-Central Coast Mariners goalkeeper Danny Vukovic was suspended for nine months for grabbing referee Mark Shield in the 2008 A-League grand final in a similar incident.


Defender Pedj Bojic said Sydney FC were hoping for the best but preparing for the worst.


"Whatever happens with Tiago, he has the full support of the group. He is a great guy," Bojic said at training on Tuesday.


"We have a big squad and a lot of players who can do the job from young to old so whenever he comes back he will be ready and he will be playing for his spot again."


Fellow defender Matthew Jurman added: "It is out of our hands, Tiago is harmless so we will see what they say tomorrow.


"One door closes, another one opens. We have a good squad so I'm confident that whoever comes in will do the job."


The upside for Sydney is they have found some form after an indifferent start to the season.


They will chase their third successive win against Wellington Phoenix at home at Saturday.


The visitors' preparation has been interrupted by New Zealand's World Cup qualifying play-off against Mexico.


"It always helps winning. We want that winning mentality, and hopefully that continues," Bojic said.


"We are into that phase where we are starting to turn heads and starting to settle into a style of play.


"We are happy with the way we are coming along but we need to keep building that week to week."