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FRIDAY, April 15
Brisbane Roar v Melbourne Victory at Suncorp Stadium 7.35pm
Head to head: Brisbane 12 Melbourne Victory 17 drawn 7
Last clash: Round 27 2015-2016 – Melbourne Victory 0 drew Brisbane 0 at AAMI Park
Tab Sportsbet: Brisbane $2.15 Melbourne Victory $3.25 Draw $3.55
The groans from Brisbane fans could be heard interstate on Tuesday night when Besart Berisha won his bid to have a two-week suspension reduced so he could play in this sudden-death blockbuster. But the Roar’s players reckon they’ll be all over whatever the explosive Victory striker brings to his old stomping ground for the feisty rematch of last Saturday’s scoreless draw. Coach John Aloisi is adamant there are no mental hangovers from that game at AAMI Park, which cost the Roar the Premiers Plate. Quite the opposite. Both he and Victory counterpart Kevin Muscat are backing their respective teams’ big-game form. No arguments there; Victory won the last championship and FFA Cup, while the Roar have three titles in the last five years. Rashid Mahazi has been ruled out for Victory, though returned captain Carl Valeri will almost certainly replace him as holding midfielder.
Key: Jamie Maclaren. He’s Brisbane’s antidote to Berisha, and has scored 11 of his 18 goals for the season at home – three of them in last month’s 5-0 home whitewash of a full-strength Victory.
Tip: Brisbane
SUNDAY, April 17
Melbourne City v Perth Glory at AAMI Park 5.00pm
Head to head: Melbourne City 5 Glory 9 drawn 6
Last clash: Round 26 2015-2016 – Glory 3 bt Melbourne City 2 at nib Stadium
Tab Sportsbet: Melbourne City $2.10 Glory $3.20 Draw $3.75
City have Sydney FC to thank for avoiding a nightmare knockout trip west, where they were vanquished 3-2 by Perth two weeks ago. A lacklustre Glory botched their chance to host this match by losing 4-0 to the Sky Blues in Sunday’s final regular-season game. The man who was conspicuously missing, Diego Castro, is set to return having recovered from a hamstring niggle. It would be a massive boost and music to the ears of prolific striker Andy Keogh, a major beneficiary of Castro’s vision and skill. With Chris Harold (hamstring) also named in the squad, Perth appear in good shape. City, meanwhile, face a big challenge to replace suspended winger Harry Novillo, whose contribution of 10 goals and five assists has been integral. But they will still have league top-scorer Bruno Fornaroli and the enigmatically brilliant Aaron Mooy, who creates a chance with every 20.2 touches. These sides are the only two to progress to the finals on the back of a final-round loss, after City fell to Adelaide 2-0 last Friday.
Key: When the league’s highest-scoring side (City) play the equal second-best attack (Glory), defence becomes more pertinent than ever. Perth’s backline went walkabout against Sydney, and Kenny Lowe can’t afford a repeat.
Tip: Glory
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