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A-League heavyweights Sydney FC and Melbourne Victory are set to field almost full-strength sides in Saturday's Big Blue clash at the SCG.

Opposing coaches Kevin Muscat and Steve Corica are getting the right type of headaches going into Saturday's latest clash between the A-League's greatest rivals.

The first SCG clash between Corica's Sydney FC and Muscat's Melbourne Victory is loaded with significance in relation to the scramble for top three positions.

Second-placed Sydney trail leaders Perth Glory by six points, with Victory just a further point and spot behind.

Victory have held sway this season, winning both previous games.

"I think we've played better than them in both games but they got the six points out of six - obviously we're disappointed with that," Corica said.

"We need to tidy up a couple of things defensively and if we can do that, we'll go close to getting the three points."

Both clubs are close to full strength, though Victory's Spanish midfielder Raul Baena is yet to fully recover from a hamstring injury.

"Five of the starters last week have had an interrupted month so it was nice to get some well-earned minutes into them and that will hold them and the team in good stead for the next five, six weeks," Muscat said.

For Sydney, marquee Siem de Jong and Daniel De Silva returned from injury on the bench last week, while Josh Brillante also came back as a substitute. All three will press for a start at the SCG.

"I thought all three that came on in Brisbane were very good, so I do have a headache but it's a good headache to have," Corica said.

As former players for their respective clubs, Muscat and Corica know better than most the significance of the Big Blue.

"The two biggest clubs in the country going head to head and really, this is one of the biggest ones because of what's at stake - a massive three points (that) sets up second position and gets closer to first," Corica said.

Muscat said he couldn't remember a recent game against Sydney that hadn't been important.

"We've had some great battles and I think it's testimony to both teams and both clubs that there's a certain level of importance in our games," Muscat said.

An NRL game was played at the SCG on Thursday evening, but Corica said the ground was in good shape after he walked on it on Friday.

STATS THAT MATTER

* Victory will be looking to win four straight A-League games against Sydney for the first time, and achieve their first 3-0 sweep of the Sky Blues in a season.

* Melbourne have lost just one of their last 12 away games.

* Sydney have hit the woodwork 13 times so far this season, more than any other club.