However, Janko will also be aware that he needs to be playing well for the next season, with the biggest moment of his career potentially just 14 months away. Austria are on the brink of qualifying for next year's European Championships, something they have never achieved outside of co-hosting the event in 2008.

"We had a meeting with the board and everyone has agreed we want to keep Marc. We've offered him the same contract that he's on this year and we're negotiating an extension with his agency in Europe to see if we can sort something out as quick as we can," Arnold said. "Marc has performed well, he's obviously doing well with the Austrian national team, he's scored 16 goals in 21 games for us and he's a priority for us to keep."

But it's not only Janko who the club aims to keep on their books as an impressive season - Sydney are equal top with two matches still to play - winds to a close. Of the club's five non-visa players, only defender Nikola Petkovic is signed for the next campaign. "We're obviously really keen to keep Milos Dimitrijevic, who has been outstanding this season," Arnold said. "I'd love to be able to keep Jacques Faty and Mickael Tavares. They're certainly players we're going to try and hold onto. They're only on injury-replacement contracts, but we feel this is a great place for them to play."

Arnold believes Dimitrijevic, who recently turned 31, has found inner peace while playing in Sydney and hopes that will count for something when the Serbian-born, French-raised midfielder decides his future.

"He was pretty disenchanted with football for a while in Europe and I'd like to think Sydney FC has provided an environment where he's been able to rediscover his love for the game," he said. "Hopefully we can provide that place for him in years to come."