It's the silver lining to the relentless drag of the world's longest off-season, and it could put Sydney FC on the front foot in their A-League championship defence.

After nearly three and a half months together, two of the competition's most gifted attacking midfielders reckon they're now on the same wavelength. Even coach Steve Corica is excited to see what Milos Ninkovic and Alexander Baumjohann can do together for the Sky Blues, starting with Friday night's opener away to Adelaide United.

Steve Corica is excited to see what Milos Ninkovic and Alexander Baumjohann can create together. Credit:Getty Images

Both are proven quantities, to differing degrees. Ninkovic has been a cornerstone of Sydney's recent reign as an A-League powerhouse. Baumjohann, meanwhile, has provided glimpses of the same sort of genius - but they were only fleeting moments, not the same sort of consistent class displayed by the man who is now his partner in crime.

However, the 32-year-old German has enjoyed a full pre-season - a luxury he didn't get before joining the Western Sydney Wanderers last year, and one that Corica expects will allow him to display his best on a regular basis.