MELBOURNE City boss John van’t Schip has vowed to continue his team’s controversially aggressive ways in Friday night’s FFA Cup final replay.

Sydney FC’s home advantage is diluted somewhat with the game moved to ANZ Stadium due to a Coldplay concert at their Allianz Stadium home.

Ivan Franjic, Fernando Brandan, Neil Kilkenny and Tim Cahill are likely to come back into the XI for the clash after fatigue and suspension resulted in them missing last week’s draw with Brisbane Roar.

The FFA Cup winning coach defended his team’s new-found intensity, which was most recently criticised by Brisbane’s John Aloisi and led to a spiteful last week.

“It’s football, not futsal. It’s body contact,’’ van’t Schip said.

Melbourne City’s Tim Cahill and Sydney FC’s Sebastian Ryall scuffle in the FFA Cup final. Source: News Corp Australia

“Sometimes a challenge that two players go for a ball and on the high level and high speed, if you’re a bit late it could look worse than it actually is.

“Aggression can be explained in a lot of different ways. For me it’s about being aggressive when we have the ball by playing attacking.

“When we don’t have it it’s about being aggressive in winning the ball back. It’s not said that we kick opponents and get red, yellow cards.’’

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Van’t Schip said a loss wouldn’t rule them out of the race, nor would a win make City title favourites though it would help.

He said wise heads were needed for what loomed as another big game.

“We know we have players that are up to it, can play big games and deal well with emotions and this is another one,’’ he said.

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“We want to play our own game and we’re going there to win. We do that by having a lot of the ball and controlling the game.

“But they have a good team, they’re at home and it’s a great challenge to see if we can make another step.

“In the Cup game we were aggressive, equal maybe better in the battle, so we’ve shown we can fight and match opponents in that aspect. Playing wise we can still make a lot of improvement, it’s about having the right balance.

“Sydney have been more consistent, but we want to challenge and we want to challenge them. Even if the result doesn’t go our way, the league is long.

“It’s a big game, this is a final as well.’’

Speedy winger Bernie Ibini will feature for the Sky Blues, who also get Slovakian attacker Filip Holosko back.