The Western Sydney Wanderers' FFA Cup campaign will kick off in identical fashion to their A-League season - at home to Brisbane Roar - while Sydney FC must trek to the other side of the country to face Sorrento, a small, suburban club in Perth's northern suburbs.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Sky Blues' tale of the giant being pitted minnow is a familiar theme to the Round of 32 in the FFA Cup, the point where A-League teams enter the draw. The matches will be held over a three-week period between July 28 to August 12, the exact dates of which will finalised this Friday.
But it is lowest-ranked club left in the draw, inner Sydney's Balmain Tigers, who have have perhaps landed the biggest fish of all.
The Tigers - who bear no relation to the rugby league club of the same name - have been handed a plum home tie against none other than A-League champions Melbourne Victory. Given the Tigers player in NSW State League One, they are technically three tiers below Kevin Muscat's all-conquering side.
Balmain still train at Birchgrove Oval, the birthplace of rugby league, and play their home matches at Wentworth Oval, the state's most prominent greyhound track, which once hosted National Soccer League matches - a far cry from the ultra-modern surrounds of AAMI Park.
The moneybags of Melbourne City will face an equally inauspicious start to their FFA Cup campaign, being drawn away against Newcastle-based Northern NSW Premier League side Edgeworth.
Reigning FFA Cup champions Adelaide United will get to live out the sponsorship slogan on the back of their match day shirts - "Do the NT" - by visiting Darwin Olympic, a match that automatically gets the billing of the "Ghan Derby".
Aiming to go one step further than last season, inaugural runners-up Perth Glory will aim to start their title tilt against the Newcastle Jets at home.
Michael McGlinchey will get another chance to upset his former employers when Wellington Phoenix visit Gosford to face the Central Coast Mariners.
Elsewhere, former National Soccer League giants South Melbourne have landed the trip all players want to be on, scoring a date with Gold Coast-based Palm Beach, who made a surprise run to the FFA Cup quarter-finals last season.
Sydney United - who impressed in last season's tournament - will get to lock horns with Tasmanian powerhouse South Hobart for a spot in the round of 16, while Sydney Olympic face a trip down the highway to the national capital to face ACT representatives Gungahlin United.
Blacktown City have been drawn against the National Premier League champions, Adelaide's North Eastern MetroStars, while Paul Reid's Rockdale City get to host Perth SC.
Newcastle-based Broadmeadow Magic face off with former NSL team Heidelberg United, with 1997 national champions Brisbane Strikers handed a tricky trip to face Hume City. Far North Queensland Heat must make an even longer journey, also coming to Victoria to take on the Oakleigh Cannons.
South Australian state side Croydon Kings will be up against the Queensland Lions - the club which inspired the creation of Brisbane Roar.
