Players back Melbourne derby to return to glory days

Nishan Velupillay used to sit in the stands at packed Melbourne derbies, soaking it all in.

But as a Melbourne Victory player, he's not had the same experience of playing Melbourne City at a sold out AAMI Park.

A combination of the league's drop in attendances, the COVID-19 affected years and the infamous 2022 pitch invasion have meant the once must-attend showpiece fixture has struggled to attract a bumper crowd.

But Socceroo Velupillay is adamant the Melbourne derby, and the league, can get back to its showstopping, crowd-pulling best.

"Yeah, I think it can," he said.

"Obviously it's about exposure as well.

"The level of the league is improving, and you can see that on the international stage, we're matching it with other countries in Asia as well.

"So, yeah, it'll take time, but I think for sure we can get back to that 30,000 crowd."

Velupillay and Melbourne City star Mathew Leckie, who is set to return from injury, urged fans to get down to Saturday night's game, with a crowd of more than 20,000 already expected.

"if you really want to experience a good game of football, no better than a derby," Leckie said.

"There'll be a real intensity in the game, and should be a good atmosphere as well.

Leckie hailed the improving standard of the league since he returned from a lengthy career in Germany.

"The standard is very underestimated here," he said.

"A perfect example is, a lot of the foreigners have come over here expecting it to be easier than what it actually is.

"It's not an easy league to play in. All the teams are trying to win the game. There's a lot of entertainment and attacking. No team really parks the bus.

"In saying that ... if you see it on the TV and you watch behind in the stands, and there's no one sitting there, then it just automatically makes the quality less."

There is extra spice to Saturday's game, with former City captain and coach Patrick Kisnorbo calling the shots for the Victory.

Leckie still speaks with Kisnorbo regularly - but this week it's been radio silence.

"Just adds more fuel to the derby," Leckie said.

"Knowing him as a coach and how he prepared us, Melbourne Victory's gonna come out firing, really intense and aggressive.

"So it'll match the derby perfectly."

As he contemplates coming off the bench on Saturday, Leckie said he wasn't thinking about pushing for the Socceroos' November 14 clash with Saudi Arabia in Melbourne, instead focusing on getting back to full fitness.