A-League pre-season wrap: Who's hot, who's not!

FINALLY! A-League season 2018/19 kicks off tonight so which club is firing on all cylinders ahead of Round 1? FTBL breaks down the pre-season results. But is it any indication of how the opening rounds will unfold? We'll know soon enough.

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Pre-season casualties

There's plenty of star power on show this weekend with the likes of Keisuke Honda, Adam Le Fondre, Steven Taylor, Ola Toivonen, Mirko Boland and Alex Baumjohann set to make their A-League debuts. Just as influential however is who won't be there. Not everyone player escaped the pre-season unscathed with some big names set to miss the start of the new campaign.

FRIDAY

Adelaide United are at full strength going into tonight’s home clash with Sydney FC which is more than can be said of the Sky Blues who suffered a crushing blow when on-fire speedster Trent Buhagiar did his ACL on season eve. Depth will be tested with the likes of new signing Danny De Silva (hamstring) still a week away from returning and long-time injuries Ben Warland (foot- 8 weeks) and Chris Zuvela (knee-indefinite) on the treatment table.

Buhagiar blow for Sydney

SATURDAY

Melbourne Victory have the luxury of a full squad heading into the derby on Saturday while Melbourne City are missing a host of youngsters to international duty. The big dramas come in the form of injured winger Ben O’Halloran (hamstring), Osama Malik (calf) and Curtis Good (fitness). City will feel confident, however, that they have the talent to cover the losses.

SUNDAY

Newcastle Jets have been hit on the injury front with the omission of rising stars Joe Champness (foot) and Johnny Koutroumbis (illness), who Jets confirmed this week was diagnosed with stage one thyroid cancer. The 20-year-old defender has put his football career on hold to deal with the illness. Not injured, but certainly absent is Roy O’Donovan, who mill miss eight rounds thanks to a suspension earned in last year’s Grand Final. The Jets travel away to Wellington Phoenix who are at full strength.

Merrick still not over the Grand Final

Brisbane Roar will be without World Cup veteran Brett Holman (knee) and Dane Ingham (ankle – three weeks) when they take on a Central Coast Mariners outfit without Andrew Hoole (foot injury), new signing Corey Gameiro (hamstring) and Jonathan Aspro, who is returning from an ACL. No Usain Bolt of course - the sprint legend is still deciding his future.

McCormack and Oar - Mariners' deadly duo?

Broich doco inspired Ziegler move

Meanwhile, Perth’s Brendon Santalab won’t be there to face off against his old club when Glory host Western Sydney Wanderers in the last game of the round. The former red and black legend is out for one to two weeks with a hamstring injury, along with club captain Diego Castro (hamstring), Chris Harold (illness) and Jacob Italiano (knee). Wanderers are also missing key personnel at both ends of the park. As well as a laundry list of youngsters away on international duty, striker Mark Bridge is on the treatment table (6 weeks) along with German centre back Patrick Ziegler 9 (injury – 2 weeks).