'Disappointed' Sydney FC imports react to axing

Both Campuzano, who has just four goals all season and hasn't scored since January, and Quispe have flattered to deceive for Sydney this season.

Kisnorbo, whose side travel to face Western Sydney Wanderers on Saturday where a win can strengthen the Sky Blues' hopes of a top-six finish, said he had been encouraged by how the pair had responded to their axing. 

"I don't think it was a message (to send to the squad), it was what I thought (best) for the game at the time, whether it was wrong or right," Kisnorbo said on Friday. 

"When I came in, I said to the players that there's competition and it's a new sort of way. 

"I'm sure they'll be disappointed in not starting, but the application to training has been fantastic and that's all you can ask for.

"We'll see what happens tomorrow (Saturday) but can only play 11 players on the field, and there is disappointment, but it's a good disappointment.

"They have shown that they're good teammates and want the team to improve and the attitude has been fantastic."

Kisnorbo is expected to stick solid with the back four that faced the Roar with Alex Grant and fellow first-choice centre back Marcel Tisserand both set to miss the Wanderers clash with hamstring issues.

"We can hopefully bring them back soon, but at the moment they'll be missing," Kisnorbo said.

Victory will boost Sydney's finals hopes and all but condemn the Wanderers to their first-ever wooden spoon.

Kisnorbo is likely to bring Socceroos midfielder Paul Okon-Engstler back into the mix after deploying him from the bench against the Roar following his return from national team duty. 

"There's a lot of things that I like and for (someone of) such a young age he shows so much maturity with the ball and without the ball," Kisnorbo added.

"There's a lot of learning that he needs to do. But he's had a great mentor in his father (ex-Socceroo Paul Okon) … he's a very coachable player."