With Danny Tiatto ticking like a time bomb, Queensland Roar coach Frank Farina will engage his midfield star in a quiet "chat" after the explosive veteran pledged to crank up the aggression against the Melbourne Victory on Sunday.
Farina is expected to tell the career firebrand that fewer yellow cards doesn't equate to poor form, despite the ex-Socceroo saying earlier in the week his revised, touchy-feely approach to football was handicapping his natural game.
Former Manchester City hardman Tiatto has been trying to keep his nose clean with referees after last season being cautioned five times, sent off once and suspended after a video review.
His final-game strike on Adelaide's Travis Dodd was his most costly infringement. As a result, the 35-year-old missed both legs of the Roar's minor semi-final against Sydney FC, earning the ire of his coach and fans in the process.
He entered the 2008-09 campaign with a vow to spend more time on the field and in that respect, his efforts have paid dividends. Tiatto has been shown the yellow card just once in five outings.
But Tiatto believes in toning down his aggression, he has depleted his game to the detriment of the Roar, who have endured another slow A-League start with just one win from five outings.
"I think I've tried to take it easy and not get booked and I don't think that's really helped," Tiatto said this week.
"I think I've got to get stuck in and work a little bit harder, get myself involved a little bit more and try to create a spark in there, which might kick us on. Everyone else will follow the lead.
"I'm going to have to go back to my old ways and if I get a suspension here and there, that's going to have to be the way."
Farina wasn't concerned by Tiatto's comments, saying the pair would have an informal discussion before the testing away clash with league leaders Melbourne.
"He's looking a bit agro at the moment. But I'll think he'll be fine," Farina said. "I'll have a chat with him tomorrow when we get to Melbourne. Danny's alright. I'll always have a chat to him. He's a nice guy to talk to."
Although Tiatto clearly believes his watered-down tackling style has lessened his influence as a team leader, Farina said he was more than happy with the way Tiatto was performing.
"I've been happy with the way he's playing. He's obviously going cold turkey because he hasn't had a yellow for a while," a relaxed Farina said.
"I've said to him before 'that's a good thing, Danny'. You don't have to get a yellow to show you're playing well. We will have a chat but he's fine. He's experienced enough. He's been around a long time."
The Roar were in no doubt as to what they were getting when they signed Tiatto, who is hard enough to be one of the gangsters in Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels .
Even with Tiatto's promise to revert to his former ways, Farina said he had full faith Tiatto would temper his game for the benefit of the club and had learned his lesson from last season.
"That's just the way he plays. It's the style he's been playing since he first started. You can't teach an old dog new tricks," Farina said.
"His aggression is what's got him to where he is now in terms of his career and what he's done. I'm very comfortable with Danny in terms of the way he plays."
Roar captain Craig Moore said Tiatto's combative nature was the key element in his make-up as a professional footballer and any lessening of that instinct could be counter-productive.
"He's a determined character. He doesn't like to be on the losing team. He's a very competitive player and I think if you take that away from Danny Tiatto, you take away his game," Moore said.
"Thankfully for us he has been steering clear of trouble from the refs. It's important that he's on the field for us."
Goal-scoring midfielder Charlie Miller will travel with the team to Melbourne, with Farina confident the Scotsman will overcome a groin injury, although 90 minutes would appear beyond him.
Youth League striker Tim Smits will remain in Melbourne as back-up should Miller fall short of the mark.
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