Wellington visits its dreaded venue of Suncorp Stadium, where it has never won, registering one draw and four losses, scoring five times in as many games and conceding 13.

The Phoenix have only beaten the Roar once in nine meetings, and it won’t be made any easier if the Roar’s dynamic midfielder Massimo Murdocca makes his expected return from a quad injury.

Adelaide will regain Adam Hughes from suspension for its trip to North Queensland, where the Fury win half of all games and defeated Sydney FC in week two.

Central Coast travel to the Sydney Football Stadium, where it has lost six of 10 clashes.

Sydney could regain one of or both the Killer Bs – Mark Bridge and Alex Brosque – from injury, but Vitezslav Lavicka’s side needs to improve its second half form, the period in which it has conceded all six goals so far this season.

Mariners’ fans have been forced to wait for the debut of Argentine Patricio Perez, but he is available and was kept in cotton wool in Wellington.

Another of last season’s grand finalists, the Melbourne Victory, will head to the Gold Coast to play in front of a capped crowd in search of its first win.

Victory fullback Matthew Kemp returned to training in recovery from his knee reconstruction this week, while former Dandenong Thunder winger Geoff Kellaway could earn a starting berth after his influential display as a substitute last week. 

Rival Melbourne Heart welcomes top of the table Perth Glory, with the visitors to be without Mile Sterjovski through an ankle injury and Jamie Harnwell with a strained calf, the latter likely to be replaced by Josh Mitchell.

 Phoenix Hoodoo

Wellington has never won at Suncorp Stadium, registering one draw and four losses.

 Roar Domination

Brisbane has beaten Wellington five times out of nine, with three draws and just one loss.

 Joyful Fury

North Queensland has won 50 per cent of its home games.

 Not the SFS…

Central Coast has lost six of 10 at the Sydney Football Stadium.

 Happy at AAMI?

Perth Glory was winless in Victoria until it beat the Melbourne Victory at AAMI Park in week two.

 

Brisbane Roar v Wellington Phoenix

Friday, 27 August 2010

Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane

Local kick-off: 8.00pm AEST

Referee: Chris Beath

Live and exclusive broadcast on FOX Sports 1, FS1 HD & on Sky Sports 2. Hyundai A-League club broadcast partner is 1035AM The Radio Network (Wellington). To purchase tickets visit www.ticketek.com.au

Brisbane Roar Squad: 1. Michael THEOKLITOS (gk), 2. Matt SMITH, 3. Luke DEVERE, 4. Shane STEFANUTTO, 6. Erik PAARTALU, 7. Kosta BARBAROUSES, 8. Massimo MURDOCCA, 10. HENRIQUE, 11. REINALDO, 12. Matt MUNDY, 14. Rocky VICSCONTE, 15. Matt McKAY (c), 17. Mitch NICHOLS, Andrew REDMAYNE, 22. Thomas BROICH, 23. Milan SUSAK

*one to be omitted*

In: 8. Massimo MURDOCCA (returns from injury), 12. Matt MUNDY, 14. Rocky VISCONTE (promoted)

Out: 5. Ivan FRANJIC (quad strain – 1-2 weeks), 18. Luke BRATTAN (illness – 1 week)

Unavailable: 9. Jean Carlo SOLORZANO (awaiting ITC)

Wellington Phoenix squad: 1. Mark PASTON (gk), 2. Manny MUSCAT, 3. Tony LOCHHEAD, 6. Tim BROWN, 7. Leo BERTOS, 8. Paul IFILL, 9. Chris GREENACRE, 10. Oscar Roberto CORNEJO, 11. DANIEL, 13. Troy HEARFIELD, 14. Mirjan PAVLOVIC, 17. Vince LIA, 18. Ben SIGMUND, 19. Danny VUKOVIC (gk), 22. Andrew DURANTE (c), 23. Dylan MACALLISTER

*one to be omitted*

In: Mirjan PAVLOVIC (promoted), Danny VUKOVIC (gk, new signing)

Out: Griffin McMASTER (gk, omitted)

Unavailable: Diego WALSH (knee – 3 weeks), Jade NORTH (overseas – 2 weeks), Reece CROWTHER (gk, ribs – 7 weeks)

Head-to-Head: All matches (played 9): Brisbane Roar 5 wins, Wellington Phoenix 1 win (3 draws)

 

North Queensland v Fury Adelaide United

Saturday 28 August 2010

Dairy Farmers Stadium, Townsville

Local kick-off: 5.15pm AEST

Referee: Peter Green

Live and exclusive broadcast on FOX Sports 3. Hyundai A-League club broadcast partner is Zinc 100.7 (Townsville) and ABC Digital (Adelaide). To purchase tickets visit www.ticketek.com.au

North Queensland Fury squad: 1. Justin PASFIELD (gk), 2. Jack HINGERT, 3. Brad McDONALD, 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, 15. Chris PAYNE, 16. Simon STOREY, 17. Osama MALIK, 18. Brett STUDMAN, 19. Isaka CERNAK, 20. Matthew HAM (gk), 21. Jason SPAGNUOLO
*four to be omitted*

In: 2. Jack HINGERT (promoted), 3. Brad McDONALD (promoted), 12. Panagiotis NIKAS (promoted), 21. Jason SPAGNUOLO (promoted)

Out: 4. Eric AKOTO (suspended – 1 week), 14. Chris GROSSMAN (suspended – 1 week)

Unavailable: 13. Andre KILIAN (foot injury - 2 weeks)

Adelaide United squad: 1.Eugene GALEKOVIC (gk), 4.Iain FYFE, 5.Daniel MULLEN, 6.CASSIO, 7.Lucas PANTELIS (c), 8.Adam HUGHES, 9.Sergio VAN DIJK, 10.Marcos FLORES, 12.Paul REID, 16.Inseob SHIN, 17.Iain RAMSAY, 19.Mathew LECKIE, 20.Mark BIRIGHITTI (gk), 24.Cameron WATSON, 26.Joe KEENAN

In: Adam HUGHES (returns from suspension), Sergio VAN DIJK (returns from injury), Joe KEENAN (short term replacement)

Out: Francesco MONTEROSSO (omitted), Joe COSTA (omitted), Matthew MULLEN (omitted)

Unavailable: Nigel BOOGAARD (ankle – 10 weeks), Robert CORNTHWAITE (groin – 1 week), Travis DODD (groin – 5 weeks), Lloyd OWUSU (knee – indefinite), Fabian BARBIERO (ankle – 2 weeks)

Head-to-Head: All matches (played 3): North Queensland Fury 1 win, Adelaide United 1 win (1 draw)

 

Sydney FC v Central Coast Mariners

Saturday, 28 August 2010

Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney

Local kick-off: 7.30pm AEST

Referee: Matthew Breeze

Live and exclusive broadcast on FOX Sports 3, FS3 HD. Hyundai A-League club broadcast partner is SBS Digital 6 (Sydney) and 66.3 Coast FM (Gosford). To purchase tickets visit www.ticketek.com.au

Sydney FC squad: 1. Liam REDDY (gk), 2. Sebastian RYALL 3. Stephan KELLER, 5. Hayden FOXE, 6. Hirofumi MORIYASU, 7. Brendan GAN, 8. Stuart MUSIALIK, 10. Nick CARLE, 11. Kofi DANNING, 12. Shannon COLE, 16. Terry ANTONIS, 17. Matthew JURMAN, 19. Mark Bridge, 20. Ivan NECEVSKI (gk), 21. Scott JAMIESON, 22. Sung-Hwan BYUN, 23. Rhyan GRANT, (No. not yet allocated) Dimitri PETRATOS
*three to be omitted* 

In: Mark BRIDGE (returns from injury), Terry ANTONIS (promoted), Dimitri PETRATOS (promoted)

Out: Terry MCFLYNN (Hamstring – 2 weeks)

Unavailable: Alex BROSQUE (Ankle – 1 week)

Central Coast Mariners squad: 1. Jess VANSTRATTAN (gk), 2 Daniel MCBREEN, 3. Joshua ROSE, 4. Pedj BOJIC, 6. Patrick ZWAANSWIJK, 7. John HUTCHINSON, 8. Rostyn GRIFFITHS, 9. Nik MRDJA, 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), 23. Adam KWASNIK
*two to be omitted*

In: 12. Matthew LEWIS (promoted)
Out: 5. Brad PORTER (foot – 1 week)
Unavailable: 5. Brad PORTER (foot – 1 week)

Head-to-Head: All matches (played 16): Sydney FC 8 wins, Central Coast Mariners 4 wins (4 draws)

 

Gold Coast United v Melbourne Victory

Sunday, 29 August 2010

Skilled Park, Robina

Local kick-off: 3.00pm AEST

Referee: Ben Williams

Live and exclusive broadcast on FOX Sports 3, FS3 HD. Hyundai A-League club broadcast partner is 774 ABC (Melbourne), SEN Digital. To purchase tickets visit www.ticketek.com.au

Gold Coast United Squad: 1.Glen MOSS (gk), 2.Steve PANTELIDIS, 3.Michael THWAITE, 5.ROBSON, 6.Dino DJULBIC, 7.Zenon CARAVELLA, 8.ANDERSON, 10.Jason CULINA (c), 13.Bas VAN DEN BRINK, 14.Joel PORTER, 15.Tahj MINNIECON, 16.Kristian REES, 18.James BROWN, 19.Andrew BARISIC, 20.Scott HIGGINS (gk), 21.Golgol MEBRAHTU, 22.Adama TRAORE, 24.John CURTIS, 26.Ben HALLORAN

*four to be omitted*

In: 19.Andrew BARISIC (promoted), 21.Golgol MEBRAHTU (promoted), 22.Adama TRAORE (promoted), 24.John CURTIS (return from calf injury), 26.Ben HALLORAN (promoted)

Out: 9.Shane SMELTZ (overseas)

Unavailable: Daniel Piorkowski (ankle injury – 4 weeks), Matt Osman (knee injury – indefinite).

Melbourne Victory squad: 1.Michael PETKOVIC (gk), 2.Kevin MUSCAT (c), 3.Mate DUGANDZIC, 5. Surat SUKHA, 6. Leigh BROXHAM, 8.Grant BREBNER, 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.Nick WARD, 23.Adrian LEIJER, 27. Geoff KELLAWAY

*four to be omitted*

In: 14.Billy CELESKI (returns from injury), 17.Matthew FOSCHINI (promoted), 22.Nick WARD (promoted), 8.Grant BREBNER (returns from soreness)

Out: Nil

Unavailable: Archie THOMPSON (knee - indefinite), Matthew KEMP (knee - indefinite)

Head-to-Head: All matches (played 3): Gold Coast United 1 win, Melbourne Victory 2 wins

 

Melbourne Heart v Perth Glory

Sunday, 29 August 2010

AAMI Park, Melbourne

Local kick-off: 5pm AEST

Referee: Kurt Ams

Live and exclusive broadcast on FOX Sports 3 and FS3 HD. Hyundai A-League club broadcast partner is 774 ABC (Melbourne), SEN Digital and 882 6PR (Perth). To purchase tickets visit www.ticketek.com.au

Melbourne Heart squad: 1. Clint BOLTON, 2. Michael MARRONE, 3. Brendan HAMILL, 4.Simon COLOSIMO, 6. Matt THOMPSON, 7. Rutger WORM, 9. Gerald SIBON, 10. Wayne SRHOJ, 11. ALEX TERRA, 12. Peter ZOIS, 17. Jason HOFFMAN, 18. Ante TOMIC, 19. Eli BABALJ, 21. Kliment TASESKI, 22. Nick KALMAR, 23. Dean HEFFERNAN, 24. Aziz BEHICH

*two to be omitted*

In. Kliment TASESKI, Ante TOMIC

Out: 5. Michael BEAUCHAMP (ankle - 2 weeks)

Unavailable: 15. John ALOISI (hamstring - 1 week), 20. Josip SKOKO (hamstring - 4-5 weeks) 

Perth Glory squad: 1. Tando VELAPHI, 2. Josh MITCHELL, 3. Jamie COYNE, 7. Jacob BURNS (C), 9.Robbie FOWLER, 10. Michael BAIRD, 11. Branko JELIC, 12. Scott NEVILLE, 14. Steven McGARRY, 15. Howard FONDYKE 16. Adriano PELLEGRINO, 17. Todd HOWARTH, 19. Naum SEKULOVSKI, 20. Aleks VRTESKI, 22. Anthony SKORICH, 23. ANDRIJA JUKIC

*one to be omitted*

In: Howard FONDYKE (promoted), Anthony SKORICH (promoted), Michael BAIRD (Universitatea Craiova) – subject to provisional registration

Out: Jamie HARNWELL (Calf - 2-3 weeks), Mile STERJOVSKI (ankle – 2 weeks)

Unavailable: Andy TODD (knee- 1 weeks), Victor SIKORA (hip- 5 weeks), Chris COYNE (On loan – 12 weeks)

Weekend Break: Newcastle Jets