Tuesday, 19 September 2017: Coach Tony Popovic says Western Sydney are primed for A-League success after one of their best pre-seasons.

Western Sydney coach Tony Popovic reckons his side have never had a more-settled and productive pre-season in the A-League club's six-year history.

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The Wanderers will be looking to prove it, too, when they meet Blacktown City in Wednesday night's sold-out FFA Cup quarter-final.

Traditionally slow starters in the A-League, the Wanderers want to make an impact from the outset and appear to have laid down the right foundations to do it.

For the first time, Popovic has been able to finish his recruitment plans early - meaning his players won't have to adapt to each other on the fly when the real action starts.

"That's something we've always tried to do but it doesn't always happen," Popovic told reporters on Tuesday.

"It's not something that's critical to your success, but it's an important part of helping players gel quicker.

"All of the players are fit and healthy ... That's been the best thing about the pre-season so far."

Popovic has brought in four new foreigners - Spanish trio Oriel Riera, Alvaro Cejudo and Raul Llorente, plus former Wellington midfielder Roly Bonevacia - along with experienced locals Michael Thwaite, Josh Risdon, Chris Herd and Mark Bridge.

They have won their past seven pre-season clashes, including two FFA Cup fixtures, with their only blemish being July's 3-1 defeat to Arsenal.

Popovic is braced for another stern test against Blacktown. The NPL NSW side beat Central Coast in the round of 32 and also toppled the Phoenix in a recent friendly.

Thousands will cram into the Lily's Football Centre - official capacity 7500 - to see if they can claim another big-name scalp.

But with the state-league season long finished and Western Sydney nearing optimum fitness levels, it could well be a one-sided contest.

"They're a very well-run football club; they've had a lot of success over a long period of time. It's a great moment for them," Popovic said.

"We know it will be tough. They'll get the respect they certainly deserve but we're expected to go through, as we should be.

"And we need to show the difference in class."