Preview of round 18 of the A-League (all times AEDT).

FRIDAY
NORTH QUEENSLAND FURY v PERTH GLORY at Dairy Farmers Stadium, 8.30pm
Head to head: North Queensland 1, Perth 0, drawn 1
Last meeting: North Queensland 2 bt Perth 1 at Dairy Farmers Stadium, Oct 2009
TAB Sportsbet: North Queensland $2.45, Draw $3.40, Perth $2.60

The Glory are failing to make much headway despite consistent solid performances, with just one win from their past seven matches, staying in fifth spot throughout that period. They have not lost by more than a single goal during that stretch and have also picked up three draws. But another match they would have viewed as winnable slipped by with only a point gained, when they drew 1-1 with Brisbane at home last weekend. They have another opportunity against a team ranked below them in this match, the Fury sitting second bottom after their big 4-1 loss to Sydney. But the loss of Perth’s top scorer this season Branko Jelic to an ankle injury will make life harder. And North Queensland will fancy their chances, having won two of their past three home games, one of those against Perth.

Key: The Glory have been solid in defence, but in recent weeks have not scored often enough to make a move up the ladder and the loss of Jelic reduces their firepower further.
Tip: Draw

SATURDAY
WELLINGTON PHOENIX v SYDNEY FC at FMG Stadium, 5pm
Head to head: Wellington 3, Sydney 4, drawn 1
Last meeting: Sydney 3 bt Wellington 1 at Sydney Football Stadium, Nov 2009
TAB Sportsbet: Wellington $2.55, Draw $3.35, Sydney $2.50

Wellington stretched their unbeaten home streak to 14 against Melbourne Victory last weekend. It equals Sydney’s A-League record, meaning the NZ side can make the record their own if they gain at least a point from this match. That would also deny Sydney the opportunity to take top place on the ladder, which they will do if they down the Phoenix and Melbourne lose to Central Coast. But Wellington’s job will be made harder by the loss of first-choice keeper Mark Paston with a knee injury. And while they will still enjoy home support, this match is at Palmerston North’s FMG Stadium, whereas their 14-match streak was achieved entirely at Wellington’s Westpac Stadium. The Sky Blues will be confident after breaking a three-match losing streak in superb fashion with last round’s thrashing of the Fury. But while their attack is in good form, Wellington’s defence has proved consistently difficult for visitors to penetrate.

Key: While the Phoenix kept their unbeaten run intact against Melbourne, they would have been disappointed to allow a late equaliser from a 10-man Victory and will be desperate to avoid any defensive lapses this time.
Tip: Draw

CENTRAL COAST MARINERS v MELBOURNE VICTORY at Bluetongue Stadium, 7pm
Head to head: Central Coast 5, Melbourne 6, drawn 3
Last meeting: Central Coast 4 bt Melbourne 0 at Etihad Stadium, Nov 2009
TAB Sportsbet: Central Coast $2.55, Draw $3.35, Melbourne $2.50

The Mariners have made top-placed Melbourne their whipping boys so far this season, with a 2-0 win in the opening round followed by a 4-0 thrashing in November, both at Etihad Stadium. It is an impressive record, given the Victory have only lost four matches in total and been kept scoreless on just three occasions. The four-goal result cost the man who had been Melbourne’s first-choice keeper, New Zealand’s Glen Moss, his spot. He was replaced by youngster Mitch Langerak, who has grabbed his chance, conceding just one goal in three matches. The Mariners will be keen to again impose themselves physically after Victory defender Rodrigo Vargas admitted his side allowed themselves to be bullied like schoolboys in the previous encounter. The loss of attacking midfielder Nick Ward (suspension) will hurt Melbourne, while the Mariners have lost midfielder Michael McGlinchey to injury.

Key: Melbourne’s classy attack has netted more goals than any other club this season, but the question is whether they can find a way to breach what has been comfortably the league’s most miserly defence.
Tip: Draw

BRISBANE ROAR v ADELAIDE UNITED at Suncorp Stadium, 9pm
Head to head: Brisbane 3, Adelaide 6, drawn 5
Last meeting: Brisbane 2 bt Adelaide 0 at Hindmarsh Stadium, Nov 2009
TAB Sportsbet: Brisbane $1.80, Draw $3.45, Adelaide $4.15

Things have not been going well for either of these clubs in recent weeks. Adelaide are stuck on the bottom of the ladder, after losing to two of the contenders for that position – North Queensland and Newcastle – in consecutive weeks. With the eighth-placed Roar heavily favoured to win this match, it could become three in a row, which would leave last season’s grand finalists in serious trouble. But while Brisbane’s form has been good in the past few rounds, they have had some major player issues to deal with. Last week, Scottish playmaker Charlie Miller walked out on the club and this week they have agreed to release out-of-favour goalkeeper Liam Reddy from his contract at the end of the season. Despite those distractions, the Roar would have been happy to extract a point from last weekend’s trip to Perth and will like their chances of picking up all three against Adelaide.

Key: While Adelaide’s confidence is sinking fast, Brisbane will see home matches against the Reds and then North Queensland as a prime chance to continue their recent revival and move into finals contention.
Tip: Brisbane

SUNDAY
NEWCASTLE JETS v GOLD COAST UNITED at EnergyAustralia Stadium, 5pm
Head to head: Newcastle 1, Gold Coast 0, drawn 0
Last meeting: Newcastle 1 bt Gold Coast 0 at EnergyAustralia Stadium, Aug 2009
TAB Sportsbet: Newcastle $2.55, Draw $3.35, Gold Coast $2.50

Two away wins in as many matches – over Sydney and Adelaide – have given the Jets’ season a huge boost, lifting them from wooden spoon territory into finals contention. They were their first two away victories of the season, so they will return to EnergyAustralia Stadium, where they had notched four previous wins, with high hopes. But it will be no easy task against Gold Coast, who were very impressive in downing Central Coast 2-1 last weekend. It was just the second time this season the Mariners have conceded multiple goals, and it was no surprise that Shane Smeltz was one of the scorers, taking his season tally to 12. It suggested the Gold Coast are back to their strong early form after a mid-season down patch when they were hurt by injuries and suspensions, particularly to their defence.

Key: Smeltz is always a hard man to stop, but it will be interesting to see whether youngster Andrew Barisic can follow up an impressive second match, in which he also scored, coming off the bench, against the Mariners.
Tip: Gold Coast

© AAP 2012

Enjoy sports? Enjoy a bargain? All Sports Online has your favourite sporting brands at up to 70% off. Online only, premium quality sporting goods and merchandise at discounted prices. Get a deal now.