THE name Kevin Muscat evokes disdain and dread in most strikers.
Sydney FC's Dwight Yorke isn't among them - and he is unfussed at being the quarry of one of football's fiercest bounty hunters in Sunday night's opening A-League clash with Melbourne Victory at Aussie Stadium.
The Victory skipper's stud-marked past made him a purveyor of pain and an avid collector of red and yellow cards over nearly a decade of destruction in England and Scotland.
But Yorke's omnipresent smile doesn't even flicker at being the latest name on the defender's hit-list.
"Ah Musky, I've heard all about him and his reputation and I'm looking forward to meeting him on the pitch," says Sydney's 34-year-old master of ceremonies.
"We've never played against each other before because he was mostly in the first division [England's second tier]. But it's going to be interesting and just a part of what I hope will be the beginning of a huge Sydney-Melbourne rivalry.
"I'll get the boys fired up by telling them we must beat Melbourne to stamp our authority on this league."
Yorke knows it's time to deliver after just one goal in three unconvincing performances to date for his new club.
"This is a crucial time for me and Sydney FC. I've set myself a target of double figures this season - anything from 10 to 25 goals," he added.
"I also want to create a lot of goals and I'm looking to [strike partner] Sasho Petrovski to have a big season. I'm proud to see him being selected for the national team and I think he'll do Australia proud. He's a great person, wants to win and most of all I like the fact he scores goals."
With David Zdrilic fit again after a long-term back injury, coach Pierre Littbarski could even opt for a triple-pronged strike force against Victory who will be weakened by the loss of suspended key defender Mark Byrnes.
Sydney chief executive Tim Parker is hoping the club's first meaningful match at Aussie Stadium will attract 20,000 paying punters. The club has already sold 7000 tickets - with 3000 season passes and memberships also snapped up.