It's not the pre-season program at the home of the club's new owner, English champion Manchester City, that the team was able to enjoy this winter.

Nor is it the update - the first of an extensive program of refurbishment due at Latrobe University - of the club's training pitches.

And it's not even the fact City, with its wallet swelled by its new owners' seemingly limitless bank balance, can bring in guest players of the calibre of David Villa, the Spanish World Cup winner.

For Wielaert, the biggest, single difference this season, its first full campaign in the second coming of John van 't Schip as coach, is that City's match preparation and tactical set-up is all about themselves.

It's not that they don't think about their opponents this year. It's just that they think about themselves far more, says the Dutch centre-back. They bother themselves with what they are going to do in games rather than what any opponents might.

"I think we play our own game this year instead of looking at our opponents. We always play the same way and try to really dominate ball possession. That's the big difference between this year and last year," he said on Wednesday as he looked forward to Saturday night's Melbourne derby, the first in which "City" will be involved.

"Of course we have had some big names coming in, but it's a team sport. Of course we look at the strengths of the opponents, but we always play our own game, that's the big difference. We have worked very hard during the pre-season. We still have to improve, but we are on the right track."

Wielaert is in his second season with the rebranded club and feels not just more at home with Australia and the A-League, but surer in his own skin. His start in 2013-14 was hindered by injury and he felt he never really got going. That is not the case this year.

"It's different to what I am used to last year. I was mostly injured the whole pre-season. This season I have not missed a training session. Of course you have to get used to the travelling (the away journeys are much further than in his native Netherlands, where he spent his career before coming to City), but that is in your head.

"My family has settled in, I am happy to be here and stay here. The standard this season is better than last year and way better than two years ago, and I think it will be better every year. Our squad got better, but every squad got better. Victory got better. I think the league is really improving.

"Also there are a lot of positives from the World Cup with Australia, especially the game against Netherlands. I think they deserved a little bit more. Everybody is positive about Australian football and it's only getting better."

Last season Heart and Melbourne Victory drew the opening match of the season before Victory won the second of the three derbies 3-1. The final game was a sensational affair in which Heart scored twice in the first 15 minutes and twice in the last seven to win 4-0 - the highest-winning margin in the 12 encounters between the two clubs.

Wielaert says nothing can be read into the previous scores as so much has changed.

"In general, every game is different . A lot of things have changed inside the club, but it's still a derby, it's going to be intense. I heard it's going to be a full stadium. It's good for the game and it's important to get three points.

"We try to make a real statement with every game. I think we played OK in the first two games this season [1-1 draws with Sydney and Newcastle]. We had the chances to win but didn't do it.

"The 4-0 win last year, as a result maybe it was the best, but if you look back at that game, we started very poor but didn't concede a goal. We scored the first goal, had a lucky second goal. I think that result wasn't really fair. I think in the first game [a scoreless draw at Etihad Stadium] we deserved a better result."

Wielaert, like everyone at the club, is hopeful Villa will return to complete his guest stint following his trip back to be with his wife and family in New York.

"We are pretty comfortable, we know he will not be with us the whole season, but we just enjoy him being around as much as possible. It's not an issue with the playing group [his departure], not at all.

"He's just a normal guy, first in with the team, he wants to work hard, but of course you have seen his touches on the ball, he's very direct and he brings some spectators to the stadium. I hope they will stick around if he leaves. He's just a really good player and a really good guy."

For Villa's home debut last weekend - when for the second match in a row he rescued a point for his side with an equalising goal - City attracted more than 15,000 fans to AAMI Park, more than the club has for any game other than a Melbourne derby.

Wielaert said the extra fans and support made a real difference to the team.

"The crowd, it was inspirational in the last game because when we fell behind, the spectators really acted like a 13th man and helped us back into the game. I hope they will stick around."

Wielaert and his centre-back partner Patrick Kisnorbo will have to cope with Besart Berisha in a Victory shirt in his first derby. It's a task they know presents challenges, but one which the ex-Ajax defender is looking forward to.

"Berisha is a quality striker. He works very hard, tries to get pressure on opponents. But it's a team sport, not only Berisha can win games, not only David Villa. You have to do it with 11."