Aiming for their fourth straight A-League win at home, Sydney FC are set to receive a further boost with the return of veterans Brett Emerton and Jason Culina.
The pair missed last Saturday’s 2-2 draw with Newcastle through injury but are likely to be named in the starting line-up for Sunday’s clash with Brisbane.
Emerton failed to recover from a back strain while 32-year-old Culina was rested as the Sky Blues sit on the edge of the top six with eight games of the regular season remaining.
“He was starting to feel fatigued,” Farina said of Culina on Wednesday.
“There’s no major injury … he was mentally and a bit physically tired.
“He’d played, I think, five times for 90 minutes and done well and I think he needed a rest.”
Farina also expected Emerton to train on Friday after receiving an injection to a disc in his lower back last week.
Defenders Tiago Calvano and Fabio are available after serving one-game bans but Terry McFlynn won’t be after copping a red card against the Jets.
Sydney FC have been in roaring form at Allianz Stadium, last month’s 7-1 demolition of Wellington following hard-fought wins over Melbourne Heart and Central Coast.
Meanwhile striker Joel Griffiths, who was handed a three-match suspension last week for abusing a match official, scored twice on Wednesday as Sydney FC beat Tahiti 4-0 in a practice match.
Joel Chianese and Alec Urosevski also finished on the scoresheet.
Qantas supports Australian Football
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Yes Antonis is well below his best... Sometimes I think he is suffering from Culina envoy and is not trying hard enough to reclaim his spot in the starting XI ;)
Dave
Guest
Yeah Powell definitely seems to have got ahead of Chianese in the pecking order this year. Somewhat surprising after Chianese having a bit of a breakout season last year. But to be honest its been a bit of a horror season for bringing through youth and having them come into a strong stable team, where everyone knows their roles. A few have got chances and done pretty well - Triantis, Gligor, Calver. I haven't been frothing over Triantis like a few of our fans seem to have done. I think he's done well, but not unbelievable. In saying that though its got to be hard coming in and excelling this season with all the upheaval. Antonis has had a difficult year, missed a lot at the start due to national team call ups, then an injury I think(?). He is reaching the stage where he really needs to start kicking on, but hasn't been able to get consistent games this season, and when he has played hasn't done anything particularly special. He's no more than a solid squad player at the moment IMO.
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I'm looking to Culina to put in another stellar performance at the SFS. I also hope Emerton has recovered a 100% from his injury---I would hate to think he will be playing under an injury cloud. I wonder if Chianese will get a start over Powell. Farina seems to be thinking of a change up front, not there is much between the two kids---both have the ability to get something out of this game with ADP guiding them along hopefully.
Dave
Guest
Come on Sydney!! Out of those last 3 home wins it was only the one against Mariners that we really played well - attack AND defence. If we can play something like that again then I'll be happy even if we lose. Well, relatively happy at least. ;)