Ins: Nicolรกs Martinez (Olympiacos), Kerem Bulut (Iraklis), Jack Clisby (Melbourne City), Jacob Melling (Melbourne City), Robbie Cornthwaite (Selangor FA), Jumpei Kusukami (Cerezo Osaka), Steven Lustica (Brisbane Roar), Bruno Pinatares (Cerra - Uruguay), Artiz Borda (Deportivo Alaves, Spain), Jerrad Tyson (Perth Glory), Lachlan Scott (promoted), Mario Shabow (promoted)
Outs: Scott Jamieson (IFK Goteborg), Alberto (released), Daniel Alessi (released), Andreu (released), Mark Bridge (Changrai United- Thailand), Romeo Castelen (released), Shayne D'Cunha (released), Alusine Fofanah (released), Golgol Mebrahtu (released), Jacpb Pepper (Brisbane Roar), Federico Piovaccari (released), Liam Reddy (released), Matt Sim (released), Dario Vidosic (Liaoning Whowin)
Last season:
The Wanderers fell just one step short of silverware last season, as they tasted defeat against Adelaide United 3-1 in the 2015/16 Hyundai A-League Grand Final.
Western Sydney looked down and out the previous week in the semi-final after trailing 3-0 inside 25 minutes against Brisbane Roar, before a stunning comeback completed by a Dario Vidosic goal in extra-time saw Tony Popovic's men win 5-4 and book their place in the decider.
Key player: Kerem Bulut
The striker's time was very short lived in his first stint in Western Sydney, but there's no doubting Kerem Bulut made a substantial impact.
Bulut scored a double in his debut match - a 4-3 loss to Sydney FC in the Sydney derby - and became an instant cult hero for the Wanderers.
In total, Bulut's A-League career in Western Sydney spanned just nine games but featured five goals, and following an unsuccessful stint abroad Bulut is back to pick up from where he left off.
Both Brendon Santalab and Mitch Nichols scored 10 goals or more for the red and black last season, and if Bulut can join those two on the goal scoring charts, Bulut would quickly become a hero once again.
Why they'll win:
Tony Popovic has created a certain club culture in Western Sydney, and he knows the players that he's brought in will gel and adapt to their teammates quick quickly.
Popovic has also signed quality players as well, with Bulut to be joined by marquee man Nicolas Martinez as the two to watch during the upcoming season.
The Wanderers will have a very strong starting XI and useful options off the bench, so if his side can stay healthy, Popovic's men may just go one better than they did last time around.
Why they won't:
Despite the acquisition of Bulut, Western Sydney have still lost a lot of firepower as the enter the new season.
The Wanderers scored the fewest goals out of the top five teams last season with just 44, and have lost players that contributed over half of their goals throughout the 2015-16 campaign.
Six of their top eight goalscorers in the previous season have all left as Mark Bridge, Romeo Castelen and Dario Vidosic scored 20 goals between them, with the remaining three players combining for six goals.
Santalab and Nichols will need to even better their outputs from last season and Bulut will have to lead from the front if the Wanderers are to come close to their goal tally from last season to be able to match it with the competition's top sides.
Starting XI:ย (All starting XI's are default 4-4-2)
Goalkeeper: Andrew Redmayne
Defenders: Shannon Cole, Aritz Borda, Nikolai Topor-Stanley, Scott Neville
Midfielders: Mitch Nichols, Bruno Pinatares, Dimas Delgado, Nicolas Martinez
Strikers: Kerem Bulut, Brendon Santalab
Championship oddsย (courtesy of TopSport)
Predictions: 3rd
Even with some possible goal scoring struggles, this Wanderers team is capable of doing big things in 2016/17.
They've strengthened a defence that conceded the second fewest goals last season, and most of their foreign imports look like they can make quick impacts.
For a side that made it all the way to the big dance last season they'll be quietly confident they can do the same again, but we just can't see them getting past the two Melbourne teams.
