Dimitrijevic, who has been a revelation for the Sky Blues this season and is coming off contract in May, gave his strongest indication yet that his desire is to remain with the club for another season.

It is understood Sydney are interested in securing the services of the Serbian central midfielder who has become a key player in coach Graham Arnold's side and emerged as one of the most composed midfielders in the league in his first full season in Australia.

Formal negotiations for a contract extension are expected to commence after the derby against Western Sydney Wanderers on Saturday night but it appears Sydney FC have already won half the battle in convincing Dimitrijevic to remain in the A-League for the 2015-16 season.

"I am very happy here. I would like to stay here of course but sometimes in football you just don't know [what will happen]," Dimitrijevic said. "For the moment I am focused on my games, on the team. We've played really good in the last few weeks. I am focused on the pitch and we will see what happens after."

Dimitrijevic will play his first away derby since arriving at Sydney FC in January last year but is already familiar with the tone of the match. His first experience of Australian football was the second derby of last season at Pirtek Stadium shortly after arriving from Serbia. Having a coffee in the Parramatta precinct with Sasa Ognenovski hours before the game, the two were confronted by rival fans who gave them a welcome fitting for a cross-town derby.

"Me and Sasa went out for a coffee before the game and when we came back, it was all happening around the stadium. The Wanderers fans, well they're very good for them. They started to say things to Sasa and I just took him away and say 'we must go, the game will start.' It wasn't easy, but a funny story," he said.

He will be joined by Senegalese international Mickael Tavares who will also play his first Sydney derby.

Tavares has played derbies all over the world and says it brings out a special emotion for him. Citing the 2008-09 Prague derby as his favourite, when Slavia defeated Sparta 4-1 on their march to the title, the usually calm Tavares says the atmosphere around the precinct on derby day elicits a special response from him.

"It gives me lots of motivation, you really want to die for these games," Tavares said. "I saw a few games on YouTube and I saw the stadium was packed so I'm really looking forward to seeing it again in Sydney."