"He is also suspended for this [foul on] Archie Thompson. He kicked him; it happens in football. It's not easy for us, we started to play three games together. I first played two games with Seb Ryall, now with Tiago and now I have to change my partner," Petkovic said.

The former Red Star Belgrade player laments the heavy toll the forced rotations have had on the stability of his club's defensive combinations.

"This [stability] is the best way, and if you play every week with the player and your partnership is the same, but now the situation has change, he is suspended," Petkovic said.

Calvano will likely learn his fate next week when the Match Review Panel decides the length of his suspension for his physical altercation with Green. There are fears within Sydney's camp that the Brazilian might have played his last game for the season already, given the precedence of a nine-month ban given to former Central Coast Mariners goalkeeper Danny Vukovic in 2008.

"When you touch referee, maybe your season is finished. It's not easy but I support him and I wish him all the best," Petkovic said. "What can he say? He didn't want to touch the referee but he just wanted to help his team, at the moment that was the situation."