SO it’s true. You can’t escape the subject of real estate in any Sydney conversation. And it’s equally true that some people can’t help looking down on their neighbouring suburbs — the feeling that things are just, you know, a little bit more upmarket around here.

Remember the Graham Arnold who ran the Mariners on the smell of an oily rag? Turns out that when he moved to the big smoke to coach Sydney FC, he started to appreciate the finer things in life.

VIDEO: Did Jose Mourinho shove a young fan in the street?

FLASHPOINT: PFA threatens action over Reddy treatment

Like playing at the “mansion” of Allianz Stadium. Not like those poor Wanderers, he said almost holding his nose, who have to play in “their little shed” out at Parramatta.

Even as the Western Sydney fans know for sure they’re being wound up ahead of the derby on Saturday, it will be mighty hard for them not to take the bait.

“It’s a one-night-only opportunity for them to come out to the big city of Sydney, but also to our mansion,” said Arnold with a grin almost as wide as the Harbour Bridge.

“We went to their little shed with about 16,000 — here there’ll be 45,000 people in a full house and a great atmosphere, let’s make a good spectacle of it.”

Almost as good a spectacle as Arnold laying on the superiority with a trowel, especially when asked if his side could be the underdogs.

“Sydney FC can never go in with the underdog status,” he said witheringly. “The Wanderers are trying to get to where Sydney FC are in terms of the size of the club, but also the training facilities and everything.

“So the Wanderers are new, they’re young. We said it last year, they’re our younger brothers down the road and we’ve got to make sure we show them that we are the bigger club and the elder statesman.”

Tony Popovic rarely rises to such obvious bait, coming very much from the school of talking only via his team’s footballing displays. Which is possibly why Arnold was careful not to offer any on-field hostages to fortune.

“You look at Western sydney’s first two games, the first game against Brisbane they lost because of two set pieces, and against Adelaide they were probably the better team,” he said.

“History means nothing in another derby. It’s all about who makes the big decisions at the right time, who gets the big calls, and who performs better on the night.

“Derbies are for the fans. The players are motivated but it’s important we don’t play with emotion, but with tactical discipline and play to the game plan.”

Arnold did reveal that marquee winger Filip Holosko will play, having recovered from a tight hamstring, with Andrew Hoole also pressing for a recall after serving a one-week suspension.

Western Sydney are likely to include Spanish defender Alberto, while forward Mark Bridge may be on the bench after shaking off a groin problem.