BRISBANE sharpshooter Jamie Maclaren says he is gunning for the A-League golden boot crown currently held by Melbourne City's Bruno Fornaroli.

Fresh from his hat-trick in the Roar's 5-0 win over Melbourne Victory last week, Maclaren will go head-to-head with Fornaroli at AAMI Park on Friday night in a mouth-watering battle of the league's leading scorers. Fornaroli's debut season has been widely lauded.

The Uruguayan has already found the net 20 times in 23 games, which gives him the A-League record for goals scored in the regular season. But Sunbury born-and-bred Maclaren is hot on Fornaroli's heels — and, with 17 goals in 19 games, actually has a better goals-per-game ratio.

After moving from Perth, Maclaren set himself the target of scoring 10 goals in his first season at Brisbane.

Now he has his sights set on joining Fornaroli as the only players to score 20 goals in a regular season.

"I knew I had goals in me and I just knew if I was given an opportunity as a No. 9 I could do it," Maclaren told the Herald Sun.

"And let's be honest, I also knew I had a lot to prove in front of goal in terms of taking my chances. I've worked a lot on that myself and with (Brisbane coach) John Aloisi as well.

"I think I've improved, but like any player you have to build on that and that's what I'm aiming to do.

"I've set a goal to reach 20 goals. Obviously I want to catch Fornaroli, but it's one of those things I've got to take week-by-week."

Bruno Fornaroli is the first man to score 20 goals in a regular A-League season. Source: AAP

Maclaren has been in awe of Fornaroli's season, saying he's a "fantastic player" who "I love to watch" play.

The 23-year-old said when he goes up against other leading forwards it is a personal spur to perform even better.

"As a striker you respect the guys that are in your position more because you know how hard it is to score goals," he said.

"With Bes (Besart Berisha) on the weekend, you see a striker like that and you know that they've got goals in them. I think you both lift your game."

Melbourne City goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen, with almost 400 games of English Premier League experience, said it was a credit to Fornaroli's talent that he had broken the goal scoring record so quickly.

The Dane said it was difficult to compare players, but likened Fornaroli to former English international Kevin Phillips, who was a teammate of his at both Sunderland and Aston Villa.

"They have a similar stature, they're both powerful and very hard working," Sorensen said.

"Bruno is a lethal finisher inside the box, but he's also been a creator for us."