Until now.

Muscat's off-season departure means Victory will for the first time enter an A-League season without their icon involved as a player, assistant coach or manager.

It also means Saturday's season opener will be the first Melbourne derby without him.

While derby fixtures like Besart Berisha and Bruno Fornaroli have come and gone, there is no bigger absence than Muscat.

But under new manager Marco Kurz and with a hefty squad overhaul to boot, Melbourne are ready for life ever after.

"We've got a new coach and new management," defender Thomsa Deng said this week.

"So it's a different feel but it's also a new beginning for us - we're very excited for the season and we're happy to have Marco at the club."

City full-back and skipper Scott Jamieson had grown used to trading words with Muscat over the past two seasons' worth of derbies but anticipates there could be more touchline verbal stoushes with Kurz.

"It might save me a bit because I used to go back at him," Jamieson told AAP.

"He was obviously a very good servant for Melbourne Victory.

"But it's exciting I think for the league in a sense that Victory's got a new manager, albeit one from down the road in Adelaide.

"He's a passionate guy so I'm sure it could continue - myself and Marco might have words too - who knows?"

Across town at City, players have buzzed at the enthusiasm and approach of new coach Erick Mombaerts - something that has taken them to another FFA Cup final.

Much of City's team has remained constant, with the likes of Craig Noone, once-Victory defender Scott Galloway and Connor Metcalfe all new fixtures in their starting line-up.

Victory have gone through a significant squad overhaul, with Carl Valeri and Keisuke Honda among their departures.

Andrew Nabbout returns, as does Adama Traore, while Kristijan Dobras, Jakob Poulsen and Tim Hoogland could all start.

FIVE FRESH FACES

* Andrew Nabbout - Four years ago he was a fringe player released by Victory, spent time in Malaysia and earned a start with Newcastle Jets. Now he's a fully-fledged Socceroo ready to take the competition by the scruff of the neck.

Tim Hoogland - Victory has searched for a top-quality central defender since Matthieu Del Pierre's retirement and will hope the German can go some way towards filling the void. He should line up next to Thomas Deng.

Craig Noone - The crafty Englishman has enjoyed a stellar pre-season and FFA Cup and with Jamie Maclaren unavailable through international duty, will have to shoulder the attack.

Josh Brillante - The former Sydney FC stalwart has enjoyed his fair share of clashes with Victory over the years but will feature in his first Melbourne derby after joining in the off-season.

Connor Metcalfe - The 19-year-old has previously only experienced Melbourne derbies from the stands but has earned Mombaerts' faith with an excellent pre-season and looks likely to start in midfield.

Australian Associated Press