The club captain was speaking after a brisk 45-minute training session in heatwave conditions in Albury ahead of the clash with Perth Glory today.

The game, the first A-League match to be played on the Border, is set down for 3pm but is expected to be delayed to avoid the 42-degree maximum expected this afternoon.

Kewell went through his paces in the session at the Lavington Oval and downplayed the heat.

“It wasn’t too bad out there today, it left you a bit dry in the mouth but that was about all,” he said.

“We are professional footballers and simply going about preparing for the game.”

The Heart, still languishing at the bottom of the table, will be looking to avenge their 3-0 loss to Perth a month ago.

Since then they have put together two wins and a draw.

Kewell says the only difference is that Heart is now scoring goals.

“I don’t think we were playing poorly, in fact in that losing streak I thought we probably played only three bad games,” he said.

“We were hitting everything except the back of the net.

“The biggest difference is we are now scoring goals, even if some of the decisions on the pitch are still not going our way.

“But the confidence has always been there.

“We have been playing good football all season.

“Possession wise, shot wise (in the stats) tell the story we just hadn’t been finishing.”

Kewell said Heart would need to make the most of their chances in today’s extreme heat.

“I don’t think you are going to get too many chances out there,” he said.

“But if you are out there you will need to capitalise on anything that comes your way.”

Kewell, now 35, says he was feeling good ahead of the clash.

“I still feel fresh and still feel young in my mind,” he said.

“The only time I feel my age is the next day.