Roar, undefeated in 17 and holding a 10-point buffer atop the table, have lost both meetings to United at home.

Gold Coast have won three of four meetings between the teams with the other being a draw but face an irresistible Brisbane outfit.

Roar are undefeated in 10 home games in season six and have won eight of the nine times they have led at the main break.

Central Coast will be looking to kick start their season after their clash was postponed after 20 minutes last week when Adelaide United visit.

The Reds have a decent record at Bluetongue Stadium and will want to be ahead or level at half time against the Mariners.

Graham Arnold's men have drawn three times and lost once when level at the interval, joining Perth Glory as the only teams yet to win from that position.

Melbourne Victory host Newcastle Jets in an important finals fixture at AAMI Park.

The win over Glory came at a cost for Melbourne with Archie Thompson (hamstring) and Matthew Kemp (groin) ruled out until late and mid January 2011.

All eyes will be on how Carlos Hernandez pulls up after twisting his ankle in the same game but Victory are on a five-game unbeaten run and will want to develop that heading into the new year.

The Jets have won eight of their 16 clashes with Melbourne and collected three points the only time they visited AAMI Park, a 2-0 win over Heart.

Wellington Phoenix hit the road in desperate search of some away form at North Queensland Fury.

Phoenix have a good record against Fury, winning and drawing twice in their four meetings, including a 1-1 result in the only meeting at Dairy Farmers Stadium.

But it has been a challenge on the road with Phoenix collecting just four of a possible 30 points in season six.

Fury's home record has been disappointing and there's added incentive since they have returned to the bottom of the table.

Weekend break: Perth Glory

Simply Roaring
Brisbane are unbeaten in 17 outings and undefeated in all 10 games at home this season

No Looking Back
When leading at half time in season six, Brisbane have won eight games and drawn one

Striking Gold
Gold Coast United have won three and drawn one of four meetings with Brisbane, winning both games at Suncorp Stadium

Leads A Must
Central Coast have a poor record when level at half time this season - no wins, three draws and one loss. They and Perth are the only teams not to have won when level at half time, but the Mariners are impressive when leading.

Victory Run
Melbourne are unbeaten in five outings

Jetting In
Newcastle have won eight of 16 meetings with Victory

Wellington Holding Fury
Phoenix have never lost to North Queensland, scoring two wins and two draws

Away Hoodoo Rolls on
Wellington have collected just four of a possible 30 points on the road

 

Sydney FC vs. Melbourne Heart
Thursday, 23 December 2010
Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney
Local kick-off: 7:00pm
Referee: Ben Williams
Assistant referees: Ben Wilson and Hakan Anaz
Fourth official: Ryan Shepheard

Live and exclusive broadcast on FOX Sports 1, FS1 HD and Sky Sports 2 (NZ). Hyundai A-League club partener is SBS 6 (Digital), 774 ABC (Melbourne) and SEN. To purchase tickets visit www.ticketek.com.au.

Sydney FC: 1. Liam REDDY (gk), 2. Sebastian RYALL, 3. Stephan KELLER, 5. Hayden FOXE, 6. Hirofumi MORIYASU, 7. Brendan GAN, 8. Stuart MUSIALIK, 9. Bruno CAZARINE, 11. Kofi DANNING, 12. Shannon COLE, 14. Alex BROSQUE, 15. Terry MCFLYNN (c), 17. Matt JURMAN, 19. Mark BRIDGE, 20. Ivan NECEVSKI (gk), 21. Scott JAMIESON, 22. Sung-Hwan BYUN, 24. Dimitri PETRATOS
*three to be omitted*

In: 5. Hayden FOXE (returns from suspension), 10. Nicky CARLE (returns from injury)
Out: 16. Terry ANTONIS (knee - 4 weeks)
Unavailable: Rhyan GRANT (knee - 1 week)

Melbourne Heart: 1.Clint BOLTON, 2.Michael MARRONE, 3.Brendan HAMILL, 4.Simon COLOSIMO, 5.Michael BEAUCHAMP, 6.Matt THOMPSON, 7.Rutger WORM, 8.Kristian SARKIES, 9.Gerald SIBON, 10.Wayne SRHOJ, 11.Alex TERRA, 12.Peter ZOIS, 15.John ALOISI, 16.Aziz BEHICH, 17.Jason HOFFMAN, 20.Josip SKOKO, 22. Nick KALMAR, 23.Dean HEFFERNAN, 25.Adrian ZAHRA*four to be omitted*

In: Gerald SIBON (returns from injury), Alex TERRA (returns from injury), Dean HEFFERNAN (promoted), Brendan HAMILL (promoted)
Out: Nil
Unavailable: Eli BABALJ (thigh 4-6 weeks)

Central Coast Mariners vs. Adelaide United
Sun 26 December 2010
Bluetongue Stadium, Gosford
Local kick-off: 5:00pm
Referee: Ryan Shepheard
Assistant referees: Sarah Ho and Scott Edeling
Fourth official: Kurt Ams

Live and exclusive broadcast on FOX Sports 1, FS1 HD and Sky Sports 1 (NZ). Hyundai A-League club broadcast partners are 96.3 Coast FM (Gosford) and ABC Digital (Adelaide). To purchase tickets visit www.ticketek.com.au.

Central Coast Mariners: 2. Daniel McBREEN, 3. Joshua ROSE, 4. Pedj BOJIC, 6. Patrick ZWAANSWIJK, 7. John HUTCHINSON, 8. Rostyn GRIFFITHS, 10. Patricio PEREZ, 11. Oliver BOZANIC, 12. Matthew LEWIS, 14. Michael McGLINCHEY, 17. Chris DOIG, 18. Alex WILKINSON (c), 19. Matt SIMON, 20. Mathew RYAN (gk), 22. Mustafa AMINI, 23. Adam KWASNIK, 30. Paul HENDERSON (gk)
*two to be omitted*

In: Matthew LEWIS (promoted), John HUTCHINSON (returns from injury)
Out: Nil
Unavailable: Brad PORTER (knee - 8 weeks), Jess VANSTRATTAN (knee - season)

Adelaide United: 1.Eugene GALEKOVIC (gk), 3.Nigel BOOGAARD, 6.CASSIO, 7.Lucas PANTELIS, 8.Adam HUGHES, 9.Sergio VAN DIJK, 10.Marcos FLORES, 12.Paul REID, 13.Travis DODD (c), 14.Cameron WATSON, 15.Francesco MONTEROSSO, 17.Iain RAMSAY, 18.Fabian BARBIERO, 20.Mark BIRIGHITTI (gk), 26.Joe KEENAN

In: 15.Francesco MONTEROSSO (promoted)
Out: 2.Robert CORNTHWAITE (suspended), 4.Iain FYFE (suspended)
Unavailable: Daniel MULLEN (knee - season), Mathew LECKIE (knee - 4 weeks), Joe COSTA (knee - season)

Brisbane Roar vs. Gold Coast United
Sun 26 December 2010
Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Local kick-off: 6:15pm
Referee: Chris Beath
Assistant referees: Denis Silk and Graham Buzzi
Fourth official: Matthew Gillett

Live and exclusive broadcast on FOX Sports 1, FS1 HD & Sky Sport 1 (NZ). To purchase tickets visit www.ticketek.com.au

Brisbane Roar: 1. Michael THEOKLITOS (gk), 2. Matt SMITH, 3. Luke DEVERE, 4. Shane STEFANUTTO, 5. Ivan FRANJIC, 6. Erik PAARTALU, 7. Kosta BARBAROUSES, 8. Massimo MURDOCCA, 9. Jean Carlos SOLORZANO, 14. Rocky VISCONTE, 15. Matt McKAY (c), 17. Mitch NICHOLS, 18. Luke BRATTAN, 20. Andrew REDMAYNE (gk), 21. James MEYER, 22. Thomas BROICH, 23. Milan SUSAK
*two to be omitted*

In: Luke BRATTAN (promoted), James MEYER (promoted)
Out: Nil
Unavailable: HENRIQUE (broken arm - 1 week), Matt MUNDY (knee - 1 week)

Gold Coast United: 1.Glen MOSS [gk], 2.Steve PANTELIDIS, 3.Michael THWAITE, 6.Dino DJULBIC, 7.Zenon CARAVELLA, 8.ANDERSON, 10.Jason CULINA (c), 11.Bruce DJITE, 13.Bas VAN DEN BRINK, 14.Joel PORTER, 15.Tahj MINNIECON, 16.Kristian REES, 18.James BROWN, 20.Scott HIGGINS [gk], 22.Adama TRAORE, 23.Steve FITZSIMMONS, 24.John CURTIS, 32.Steven LUSTICA.
*three to be omitted*

In: Jason CULINA (return from knee injury), Kristian REES (return from suspension), John CURTIS (promoted).
Out: Nil.
Unavailable: ROBSON (knee injury - 1 week), Chris BROADFOOT (knee injury - 6 weeks), Daniel PIORKOWSKI (ankle injury - indefinite), Matt OSMAN (knee injury - indefinite).

Melbourne Victory vs. Newcastle Jets
Mon 27 December 2010
AAMI Park, Melbourne
Local kick-off: 6:00pm
Referee: Matthew Breeze
Assistant referees: James Nicolopoulos and Luke Brennan
Fourth official: Kevin Docherty

Live and exclusive broadcast on FOX Sports 1, FS1 HD and Sky Sports 1 (NZ). Hyundai A-League partner is 774 ABC (Melbourne), SEN and 1233 ABC Newcastle. To purchase tickets visit www.ticketek.com.au.

Melbourne Victory: 1.Michael PETKOVIC (gk), 2. Kevin MUSCAT (c), 3. Mate DUGANDZIC, 4. Petar FRANJIC, 5. Surat SUKHA, 6. Leigh BROXHAM, 9. RICARDINHO, 11.Marvin ANGULO, 12.Rodrigo VARGAS, 13. Diogo FERREIRA, 14. Billy CELESKI, 15. Tom PONDELJAK, 16.Carlos HERNANDEZ, 17. Matthew FOSCHINI, 19. Evan BERGER, 20. Sebastian MATTEI (gk), 21. Robbie KRUSE, 22. Geoff KELLAWAY 23. Adrian LEIJER.
*four to be omitted*

In: Billy CELESKI (suspended), Leigh BROXHAM (returns from injury), Petar FRANJIC (promoted)
Out: Archie THOMPSON (hamstring), Matthew KEMP (groin), Grant BREBNER (suspended)
Unavailable: Archie THOMPSON (hamstring), Matthew KEMP (groin), Grant BREBNER (suspended)

Newcastle Jets: 1. Ben KENNEDY (gk), 2. Taylor REGAN, 3. Adam D'APUZZO, 4. Nikolai TOPOR STANLEY, 5. Ljubo MILICEVIC, 7. Kasey WEHRMAN, 10. Ruben ZADKOVICH, 11. Tarek ELRICH, 12. Jobe WHEELHOUSE, 13. Sasho PETROVSKI, 14. Labinot HALITI, 17. Marcello FIORENTINI, 18. Marko JESIC, 19. Ali ABBAS, 22. Kaz PATAFTA, 24. Francis JEFFERS, 26. James VIRGILI, 27. Tomislav MISURA, 31. Jacob PEPPER
*four to be omitted, gk to be included*

In: Ljubo MILICEVIC (returns from suspension), Kasey WEHRMAN (returns from suspension), Jobe WHEELHOUSE (returns from suspension), Ruben ZADKOVICH (returns from injury)
Out: Matthew NASH (gk) (groin injury)
Unavailable: Neil YOUNG (illness - indefinite), Michael BRIDGES (knee - 6 weeks), Jeremy BROCKIE (broken foot - 6-8 weeks), Sean ROONEY (knee - season), Ben KANTAROVSKI (knee - season), Matthew NASH (groin - 2 to 3 weeks)

North Queensland Fury vs. Wellington Phoenix
Mon 27 December 2010
Dairy Farmers Stadium, Townsville
Local kick-off: 7:15pm
Referee: Jarred Gillett
Assistant referees: Brad Hobson and Daniel Jones
Fourth official: Matt Hodgson

Live and exclusive broadcast on FOX Sports 1 and Sky Sports 1 (NZ). Hyundai A-League club partners are Zinc 100.7 (Townsville) and The Radio Network (Wellington) 1035AM. To purchase tickets visit www.ticketek.com.au

North Queensland Fury: 1. Justin PASFIELD (gk), 3. Brad McDONALD, 4. Eric AKOTO, 5. Mark HUGHES, 6. Ufuk TALAY (c), 7. Gareth EDDS, 8. Adam CASEY, 9. Eugene SSEPPUYA, 10. Dyron DAAL, 11. David WILLIAMS, 12. Panagiotis NIKAS, 13. Andre KILIAN, 14. Chris GROSSMAN, 15. Chris PAYNE, 16. Simon STOREY, 18. Brett STUDMAN, 21. Jason SPAGNUOLO, 24. Ramazan TAVSANCIOGLU, 28. Sebastian USAI (gk)
*four to be omitted*

In: Eric AKOTO (back from injury), Adam CASEY (back from injury)
Out: Nil
Unavailable: Jack HINGERT (ankle - 2 weeks), Osama MALIK (hamstring - 4-6 weeks), Isaka CERNAK (knee - 2 weeks), Matthew HAM (knee - out for the season)

Wellington Phoenix: 2. Manny MUSCAT, 3. Tony LOCHHEAD, 4. Nick WARD, 6. Tim BROWN, 7. Leo BERTOS, 9. Chris GREENACRE, 10. Oscar Roberto CORNEJO, 11. DANIEL, 12. James MUSA, 13. Troy HEARFIELD, 15. Jade NORTH, 17. Vince LIA, 18. Ben SIGMUND, 19. Danny VUKOVIC (gk), 20. Reece CROWTHER (gk), 21. Marco ROJAS, 22. Andrew DURANTE, 23. Dylan MACALLISTER
*three to be omitted*

In: Nick WARD (return from injury), Tony LOCHHEAD (return from injury), Andrew DURANTE (return from suspension), Oscar Roberto CORNEJO (return from injury)
Out: Paul IFILL (leg - 8 weeks)
Unavailable: Paul IFILL (leg - 8 weeks), Mark PASTON (gk, knee - season)