Return of the Red and Black Bloc party

It has been 174 days of regret, remorse and wondering what could have been for the Western Sydney Wanderers.

Their defeat to the Central Coast in last season's A-League decider was a bitter pill to swallow for the competition's new boys.

After incredibly finishing their debut season with the Premiers Plate, the Wanderers' fairytale run ended at the final hurdle in April thanks to a 2-0 loss in the Championship decider.

But tonight, in front of a sell-out crowd in Gosford, Australian sport's youngest and most exciting football club gets their chance at vengeance.

The Grand Final re-match was always going to be a fiery affair and the A-League have decided to start the season with a bang, scheduling it for the opening weekend of the season.

Veteran striker Brendon Santalab wasn't there on Grand Final day last season, having only joined the Wanderers in August after a five-year stint abroad.

But the 31-year-old says his new teammates have been giving off a vibe of unfinished business this week.

"The boys have got a bitter taste in their mouth from the Grand Final so it will be good to get revenge," Santalab told Yahoo7 Sport.

"It's as big as any other game in a lot of ways, but the boys have that little bit of anger in them from the Grand Final loss as well so that will add a bit of spice to the game.

"It's been a long pre-season and that first game is crucial for any team and any season."

Santalab is back playing in western Sydney after a stint overseas and says he's loving life under Wanderers coach and former Socceroos defender Tony Popovic.

The pair were once teammates at Sydney FC and Santalab says there isn't much difference between Popovic the player and Popovic the coach.

"Obviously 'Poppa' was the ultimate professional when he was a player and ... now with his coaching (as well)," Santalab says.

"I knew what to expect coming to the Wanderers so I’m honoured to be at the club."

It's no surprise Santalab is looking forward to his first season at a club that took Australian sport by storm last season.

Their immediate success on the pitch was almost surpassed by their incredible support in the stands, with the Red and Black Bloc – Western Sydney's fanatical fans – providing an atmosphere never before seen in this country.

And it's only going to be bigger this time around with around 15,600 members signed up, more than double last season's figure.

Along with former Adelaide striker Tomi Juric, Santalab has been recruited to fix what proved to be the Wanderers' Achilles heel at times last season – scoring goals.

Having already found the back of the net several times during pre-season, Santalab is confident that his experience abroad – which includes stints in Belgium and China – will help take the Wanderers to the next level.

"You live and learn and you go across to the other side of the world and learn things off different coaches," he says.

"If you can pick something up from everywhere you go, you try and put that experience all together.

"That's where I'm at at the moment. I'm 31, I've got some experience under my belt ... I've played in a lot of countries and hopefully that experience will benefit the Wanderers."

Fittingly for a club that has made such a incredible impact on the Australian sporting landscape, Santalab is bullish when asked about the Wanderers' expectations for this season.

"Obviously to win it," he says.

"We're aiming for big things and nothing less."

The first step on that road to redemption begins tonight.