It was a brilliant week of tipping from Sport FM radio presenter Blayne Treadgold in Round 18, with his five correct selections proving the class of the field.

He will struggle to back things up, however, with a spicy Big Blue and with the top teams up against each other when the Reds host City on Friday night and the Mariners head to Sydney to take on the Wanderers.

Good luck with your tips for the round and be sure to enter them in the sheet below, with the voice of the people holding a slender lead as we enter the final third of the season. Here are the thoughts and selections of the panel on all the Round 19 match-ups.

Mike Tuckerman

Adelaide, Wellington, draw, United, Sydney, Brisbane

Adelaide United needed another Nestory Irankunda wonder strike to snatch a draw with Melbourne Victory last weekend, and they’ll host high-fliers Melbourne City in a confident frame of mind. City have looked vulnerable in recent weeks, and I reckon the Reds might just dig in to pull off an upset at home.

Wellington Phoenix couldn’t have left it any later to snag a point off the Mariners last weekend, and they remain one of the toughest sides to beat under Ufuk Talay. The same can’t really be said of the Newcastle Jets, even if they’ve been much improved of late. Home advantage should just about make the difference for the Nix.

Western United will invariably act as classic spoilers for the rest of the season, failing to make the top six but derailing plenty of opponents along the way. They followed up an abject defeat to Wellington with a much-improved win over Newcastle, and there’s no telling which of John Aloisi’s two sides will turn up here. Perth Glory’s season arguably ended in defeat to Brisbane Roar last time out, and it’s hard to see how they conjure a response in a game United should win.

Sydney FC came from behind to down Melbourne Victory on the Australia Day weekend, and they’ll fancy their chances of taking three more points off their bitter rivals here. The Sky Blues haven’t played their best football at Allianz Stadium, but with Jake Brimmer missing for the visitors and the hosts having much more to play for, this should be another three points in the bag for Steve Corica’s men.

Craig Noone’s early dismissal changed the complexion of the game last weekend, even if the Bulls turned over pretty easily against a determined Wanderers outfit. Macarthur don’t look like an overly impressive side under Mile Sterjovski, and they’ll come up against a Brisbane Roar side still in the throes of a new-coach bounce. The Roar got a bit lucky in beating Perth Glory last weekend, but they’ll have taken plenty of confidence from that win. Chalk them up for another three points in Campbelltown.

(Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

Stuart Thomas

Adelaide, Wellington, Western Sydney, United, Victory, Brisbane

Adelaide will be eyeing off second on the ladder – should results go their way elsewhere – when City visit on Friday night. The Reds struggled against an improved Victory last week and City looked clinical at times against Sydney. The home crowd will be a factor, yet injuries are still a problem. City will be too good.

Phoenix-Jets is a fascinating match-up, with Newcastle needing to recapture some recent form and the home side firming as potential finalists. The Phoenix are home-track specialists and three big points look to be heading their way in this one. Western Sydney versus Central Coast stands to be a belter, with a draw the smartest bet to lay. Yet something tells me this will be the day Wanderers fans have been waiting for – a statement win and serious contention for Marko Rudan’s team.

I’m not sure where Western United’s best XI have been all season, but they finally showed up against Newcastle last week and looked good for much of the contest. Reproduce that form and they will take all three points against the gritty Glory.

Good luck to everyone attempting to pick a winner in the latest edition of the Big Blue. Victory are playing better, no doubt, and Sydney FC continue to leak goals through a shaky defence. Chris Ikonomidis will star for the visitors in a 3-1 win.

Can Brisbane back up a win with another? It was great to see them back to some better form and freed up a little under the new manager. I tipped them last week and will do so again against a Bulls team that never had a chance in Round 18 after the early send-off of Craig Noone.

(Photo by Mackenzie Sweetnam/Getty Images)

Blayne Treadgold

Adelaide, Wellington, draw, Perth, draw, draw

Friday night might be a banana skin for the ladder leaders. No Matthew Leckie is a huge blow for City. The Reds to get a big home win. Another home-coming on the cards for the Nix. They’ll put the breaks on Newcastle’s form with a strong win.

Western Sydney Wanderers and Central Coast Mariners is possibly match of the round – 2nd v 3rd and it could be a preview of what we might see in a final. Nothing will split the teams in this one. It could be last chance saloon this week for Perth to really keep up the race for a top-half. A huge opportunity to turn around their away form against United. The men from the west in a tight one.

Sydney will look to capitalise on their recent form against the Victory on Saturday night. However form often goes out the window with these matches. I’m seeing a bitter draw. Both Macarthur and Brisbane are hanging on by the skin of their teeth to a top half finish. Can’t see a result here either, another stalemate.

Andrew Prentice

City, Wellington, draw, Perth, Sydney, Brisbane

The Reds continue to not lose while not inspiring confidence. City continue to leak goals while scoring at will. What’s not to love about that? These two always put on a show, and hopefully a packed Hindmarsh will be entertained again.

Finally… the Phoenix have come back to Wellington – for fans of the Rock in WWE, just say that line like he would have. Wellington hung in for a draw against the Mariners last week. The Jets were shocked by Western United at home in a result only the most ardent Western fan would have forecast – they do exist, I’m sure. It’s a tough one to call, but the home side looks like the one to beat here.

Mariners coach Nick Montgomery will get the grandstand view this week after venting his understandable frustration at the Keystone Cops-like officiating against the Phoenix. Brian Kaltak will be next to him after collecting his third red card of the season in the aforementioned farce. The Wanderers whipped their favourite opponents, Macarthur, at home last start but there are doubts over their ability to put two performances like that back to back. They seem to have solved their scoring woes though – eight goals in their last two games prove that point.

You’d need to call in the code-crackers from Enigma to decipher United’s form. Just when they look ready to fold the tent, they put three past the Jets. The Glory bubble has been pricked now they’re on the road again, and the long trip to Brisbane – complete with new coach – was too much to handle last round. But up against a team playing at Mars, anything’s possible, and the west still believes. Besides, my partner always says it’s best to back purple.

At this point Big Blue references would probably be indicative of the bruises collected by these two league heavyweights as they have rolled with the punches this campaign. Sydney were still yawning and throwing off the doona while Melbourne City put two by them early in last week’s game. Victory have shown signs of life but still find themselves propping up the ladder. Surely the Sky Blues won’t miss the start of this one.

The clubs with the newest coaches try to negotiate each other on what might be a warm Campbelltown afternoon. The new-coach bounce-back has worked so far for the Roar, but the Bulls haven’t significantly improved under Mile Sterjovski, and they leak goals alarmingly. Without the mercurial Ulises Davila, their attack lacks direction. and the Roar have at least proved for most of the season that they are tough to break down.

(Photo by Albert Perez/Getty Images)

Texi Smith

City, Newcastle, Central Coast, United, Sydney, Brisbane

Adelaide United and Melbourne City kick us off on Friday night and United may feel hard done by after a ridiculous penalty award sent them behind last week against Victory. In Nestory Irankunda they have a true wildcard to throw on at a moment’s notice to rescue a game; the problem is that Melbourne City have a team full of game-changers and they need no invitation to step on the gas and flatten opponents. While it won’t be vintage City here, a Florin Berenguer curler into the top corner will see them ahead at the break, and despite a spirited second half, the home side will be unable to claw back the deficit.

Phoenix return to their home stadium to take on the Jets, and Wellington will be the happier of the two teams coming into this one after rescuing an unlikely point against the Mariners despite playing with the extra man. The Jets were woeful in defence against Western United last week and must do better. And they will. Trent Buhagiar and Jaushua Sotirio will run riot down the wings, and the recalled Daniel Stynes will enhance his growing reputation with a terrific display in an advanced role.

Western Sydney Wanderers against Central Coast Mariners should be a cracker on Saturday evening. The home team brushed aside a compliant Macarthur Bulls team last weekend, and Mariners were given plenty to think about by the officials and the Phoenix, when squandering the lead late in the game. The form book says a home win to the Wanderers, but we saw earlier in the season that this Central Coast Mariners team can be terrific on their day. With Nick Montgomery absent from the sideline and Brian Kaltak again suspended, they will need all of their resources to contain the rampant Wanderers. When Beni Nkololo sweeps home a goal with 20 minutes remaining, the home team will lay siege, but that will give Sammy Silvera time and space to poach a second.

Western United love a game in Ballarat, and they come into this one off the back of a big win in Newcastle. Perth Glory were so unlucky against Brisbane Roar last weekend, and we’ll see another gritty display from the West Australians as they go in search of a rare away result. To be honest, tipping Perth to win away from home is futile, but this could be the closest they come. In the end a resolute defensive display from Glory will be shattered by a single goal, Connor Pain intercepting a back pass to round Cameron Cook for the only goal of an exciting game.

The Big Blue at Allianz should be a belter this Saturday night. The season opened with this fixture, one that Victory won in a rainy thriller, and this will be another cracking game to continue the rivalry between these two once-proud clubs. Sydney’s resurgence in form has come to an abrupt halt, but they will be boosted by the return of part-time hero Jack Rodwell in defence. The blue-haired duo of Luke Brattan and Paddy Wood will figure heavily today, Wood off the bench to score as the goal-scoring action saves itself for the second half. Victory will miss the guidance of Jake Brimmer and will be toothless up front, leaving Sydney to fashion further goals in a surprisingly comfortable Big Blue success.

Macarthur FC are in distress. Losing their talisman and losing heavily in every fifth game they play, this season is going from an early success to a deep dive to the bottom of the Bunnings ladder. They have a great chance though to take advantage of a misfiring Brisbane Roar, who sneaked a win at home to Perth last weekend. Expect Nikola Mileusnic to have a field day for the visitors and Carlo Armiento to score to continue the Nick Green revival as Daniel Arzani does everything in his power to score but comes up blank. Henry Hore will show him the way to goal with a quickfire double to win the contest.