Berisha: We are No.1 in this town

Melbourne Victory striker Besart Berisha has made his Melbourne Derby intentions clear, with nothing but a win in his sights at Etihad Stadium on Saturday.

Melbourne Victory is third on the Hyundai A-League ladder, 10 points above sixth-placed Melbourne City, as the season resumes following the AFC Asian Cup break.

“This is a special game,” Berisha said on Tuesday.

“For me this is what it’s all about, these derbies are so special.

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“We are No.1 in this town and we have to prove it.

“We need to win this game and I’m going to try everything, the boys are going to try everything and we are really looking forward to it.”

Berisha scored a hat-trick in the first Melbourne Derby of the season – a 5-2 win to Melbourne Victory – which was followed by a 1-0 loss in the second game between the two teams.

“I think for me I have to focus now in this Derby and make sure I don’t think what was in (the) past,” he said.

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“I just have to focus now and make sure I do my job and I am ready to score goals because it’s a special game for the club and for the supporters, it’s very, very important.

“For me, like a striker, I always said I love goals, I love scoring goals and it’s going to be another opportunity this week and I’m going to be there and ready.”

A bumper crowd is expected at Etihad Stadium, which will be in rectangular mode for the third and final Melbourne Derby of the season.

“I believe, like always, it’s going be all navy blue,” Berisha added.

In other news, forward Archie Thompson will be available for the Melbourne Derby after missing Melbourne Victory’s 3-3 draw against Perth Glory on January 25.

French defender Matthieu Delpierre is nearing closer to a return from a foot injury, having returned to training with the squad.

Tickets for the Melbourne Derby are available by clicking here.