Four of those teams - Adelaide, Wellington, Brisbane and the Melbourne Victory – will be welcoming an opponent to their home venues this weekend.

Phoenix, unbeaten in 20 in Wellington, will hold strong hopes they can overcome third-placed Central Coast after Gold Coast captain Jason Culina dashed their hopes of collecting three points late on at home last week.

The Reds welcome newcomer Melbourne Heart with defender Robert Cornthwaite likely to return, while their opponents will be without veteran midfielder Josip Skoko for at least a month in their search for a first A-League win and goal from someone in the red and white.

Brisbane host their first home game of the season when they welcome champions Sydney, who will be desperate to bounce back from their shock loss at the hands of North Queensland - but they'll be without killer B Alex Brosque who's been ruled out with a late ankle injury.

Fury visit Melbourne Victory as fans watch with interest to see if Franz Straka and his team can take another big scalp after last week’s superb win over Sydney FC, but will they face new Brazilian signing Ricardinho?

Ernie Merrick’s men have been forced to deal with injury concerns over midfield duo Carlos Hernandez and Billy Celeski, with three points vital before a round four trip to Gold Coast United, who will be coming off a bye.

Top of the table Perth welcome Newcastle Jets, a team over which Glory hold an impeccable record of eight wins in 15 clashes.

Brisbane’s Home Woes

36.21% - winning percentage at Suncorp Stadium

Skies Not Blue in Brisbane

Sydney have lost five of nine at Suncorp Stadium

Another draw?

Sydney and Roar have drawn seven times in 17 clashes

Glorious dominance over the Jets

Perth have beaten the Jets eight times in 15

Open Engine

On average, the Jets concede twice at nib Stadium, based on eight visits

Wellington Domination

Phoenix have only lost six out of 35 games in Wellington and are currently unbeaten in 20 home clashes

 

Adelaide United v Melbourne Heart

Friday, 20 August 2010

Hindmarsh Stadium, Adelaide

Local kick-off: 7.30pm (8.00pm AEST)

Referee: Ben Williams

Live and exclusive broadcast on FOX Sports 1, FS1 HD. Hyundai A-League club broadcast partner is ABC Digital (Adelaide) and 774 ABC Melbourne. To purchase tickets visit www.ticketek.com.au

Adelaide United squad: 1.Eugene GALEKOVIC (gk), 4.Iain FYFE, 5.Daniel MULLEN, 6.CASSIO, 7.Lucas PANTELIS (c), 9.Sergio VAN DIJK, 10.Marcos FLORES, 12.Paul REID, 15.Francsco MONTEROSSO, 16.Inseob SHIN, 17.Iain RAMSAY, 19.Mathew LECKIE, 20.Mark BIRIGHITTI (gk), 24.Cameron WATSON

*one to be included*

In: Nil

Out: Adam HUGHES (suspended – 1 week)

Unavailable: Nigel BOOGAARD (ankle – 11 weeks), Robert CORNTHWAITE (groin – 1 week), Travis DODD (groin – 6 weeks), Lloyd OWUSU (knee – indefinite), Fabian BARBIERO (ankle – 3 weeks), Joe COSTA (knee – 1 week)

Melbourne Heart squad: 1. Clint BOLTON (gk), 2. Michael MARRONE, 3. Brendan HAMILL, 4. Simon COLOSIMO (c), 5. Michael BEAUCHAMP, 6. Matthew THOMPSON, 7. Rutger WORM, 9. Gerald SIBON, 10. Wayne SRHOJ, 11. ALEX TERRA, 12. Peter ZOIS (gk) 17. Jason HOFFMAN, 19. Eli BABALJ, 22. Nick KALMAR, 23. Dean HEFFERNAN, 24. Aziz BEHICH

*one to be omitted*

In: 17. Jason HOFFMAN (promoted), 24. Aziz BEHICH (promoted)

Out: 20. Josip SKOKO (Hamstring – 4-6 weeks)

Unavailable: John ALOISI (Hamstring – 2 weeks), Kristian SARKIES (Leg – Indefinite), Josip SKOKO (Hamstring – 4-6 weeks)

 

Saturday, 21 August 2010

Perth Glory v Newcastle Jets

nib Stadium (formerly ME Bank stadium), Perth

Local kick-off: 3.15pm (5.15pm AEST)

Referee: Matthew Breeze

Live and exclusive broadcast on FOX Sports. 3, FS3 HD. Hyundai A-League club broadcast partner is 882 6PR (Perth) and 1233 ABC Newcastle. To purchase tickets visit www.ticketmaster.com.au

Perth Glory squad: 1. Tando VELAPHI, 2. Josh MITCHELL, 3. Jamie COYNE, 5. Jamie HARNWELL, 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, 21. Mile STERJOVSKI, 22. Anthony SKORICH, 23. ANDRIJA JUKIC

*three to be omitted*

In: Josh MITCHELL (Universitatea Craiova) , Michael BAIRD (Universitatea Craiova) – subject to provisional registration, ANDRIJA JUKIC (promoted)

Out: Nil

Unavailable: Andy TODD (knee- 2 weeks), Victor SIKORA (hip-6 weeks), Chris COYNE (On loan – 8 weeks)

Newcastle Jets squad: 1. Ben KENNEDY (gk), 2. Taylor REGAN, 3. Adam D’APUZZO, 5. Ljubo MILICEVIC 6. Ben KANTAROVSKI 7. Kasey WEHRMAN 8. Michael BRIDGES (c), 10. Ruben ZADKOVICH, 11. Tarek ELRICH, 12. Jobe WHEELHOUSE, 14. Labinot HALITI, 16. Jeremy BROCKIE, 18. Marko JESIC, 19. Ali ABASS, 30. Paul HENDERSON

In: 2. Taylor REGAN (promoted)

Out:  4. Nikolai TOPOR STANLEY (hamstring)

Unavailable: 22. Kaz PATAFTA (hamstring), 20. Neil YOUNG (illness – indefinite), 9. Zhang SHOU (not Selected) 17. Marcello FIORENTINI (not selected), 15. Sean ROONEY (calf - 4 weeks), 13. Sash PETROVSKI (not selected) 

Head-to-Head: All matches (played 15): Perth Glory wins 8, Newcastle Jets wins 3 (4 draws)

 

Saturday, 21 August 2010

Brisbane Roar v Sydney FC

Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane

Local kick-off: 7.30pm

Referee: Chris Beath

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

Brisbane Roar Squad: 1. Michael THEOKLITOS (gk), 2. Matt SMITH, 3. Luke DEVERE, 4. Shane STEFANUTTO, 5. Ivan Franjic, 6. Erik PAARTALU, 7. Kosta BARBAROUSES, 10. HENRIQUE, 11. REINALDO, 12. Matt MUNDY, 14. Rocky VICSCONTE, 15. Matt McKAY (c), 17. Mitch NICHOLS, 18. Luke BRATTAN, 20, Andrew REDMAYNE, 21. James MEYER, 22. Thomas BROICH, 23. Milan SUSAK

*three to be omitted*

In: 14. Rocky VISCONTE (returns from injury), 11. REINALDO (returns from injury)

Out: 8. Massimo MURDOCCA (quad strain – 1 week)

Unavailable: 9. Jean Carlo SOLORZANO (conditioning)

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, 13. Antony GOLEC, 15. Terry MCFLYNN (c), 17. Matthew JURMAN, 20. Ivan NECEVSKI (gk), 21. Scott JAMIESON, 22. Sung-Hwan BYUN, 23. Rhyan GRANT
*one to be omitted* 

In: Hirofumi MORIYASU (promoted), Matthew JURMAN (promoted)

Out: Alex BROSQUE (Ankle – 1 week)

Unavailable: Mark BRIDGE (hamstring – 1 week),

Head-to-Head: All matches (played 17): Brisbane Roar wins 5, Sydney FC wins 5 (7 draws)

 

Sunday, 21 August 2010

Wellington Phoenix v Central Coast Mariners

Westpac Stadium, Wellington

Local kick-off: 3.00pm (1.00pm AEST)

Referee: Peter O’Leary

Live and exclusive broadcast on FOX Sports 3, FS3 HD & Sky Sports 2. Hyundai A-League club broadcast partner is The Radio Network (Wellington) 1035AM and 96.3 Coast FM (Gosford). To purchase tickets visit www.ticketek.co.nz

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, 21. Marco ROJAS, 22. Andrew DURANTE (c), 23. Dylan MACALLISTER, 30. Griffin McMASTER (gk)

*two to be omitted*

In: Griffin McMASTER (short-term injury replacement), Mirjan PAVLOVIC (promoted), Marco ROJAS (promoted)

Out: Jonathan GOULD (injury cover no longer required)

Unavailable: Diego WALSH (knee – 4 weeks), James MUSA (knee – 1 week), Jade NORTH (overseas – 2 weeks), Reece CROWTHER (gk, ribs – 8 weeks)

Central Coast Mariners squad: 1. Jess VANSTRATTAN (gk), 2 Daniel MCBREEN, 3. Joshua ROSE, 4. Pedj BOJIC, 5. Brad PORTER, 6. Patrick ZWAANSWIJK, 7. John HUTCHINSON, 8. Rostyn GRIFFITHS, 9. Nik MRDJA, 10. Patricio PEREZ, 11. Oliver BOZANIC, 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: Chris DOIG (promoted), Patricio PEREZ (returns from injury)
Out: Nil
Unavailable: Nil

Head-to-Head: All matches (played 9): Wellington Phoenix wins 4, Central Coast Mariners wins 3 (2 draws)

 

Sunday, 22 August 2010

Melbourne Victory v North Queensland Fury FC

AMII Park, Melbourne

Local kick-off: 3.00pm AEST

Referee: Chris Boyle

Live and exclusive broadcast on FOX Sports 3, FS3 HD. Hyundai A-League club broadcast partner is 774 ABC Melbourne, SEN Digital (Melbourne) and Zinc 100.7 (Townsville). To purchase tickets visit www.ticketek.com.au

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, 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

*three to be omitted*

In: Geoff KELLAWAY (new signing), Robbie KRUSE (returns from injury), Matthew FOSCHINI (promoted)

Out: Billy CELESKI (knee – 2 weeks)

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

North Queensland Fury squad: 1. Justin PASFIELD (gk), 2. Jack HINGERT, 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, 14. Chris GROSSMAN, 15. Chris PAYNE, 16. Simon STOREY, 17. Osama MALIK, 18. Brett STUDMAN, 19. Isaka CERNAK, 20. Matthew HAM (gk), 21. Jason SPAGNUOLO
*five to be omitted*

In: Brad McDONALD (new signing), Panagiotis NIKAS (promoted), Jack HINGERT (promoted), Brett STUDMAN (promoted), Jason SPAGNUOLO (promoted)

Out: Nil

Unavailable: 13. Andre KILIAN (foot injury - 2-3 weeks)

Head-to-Head: All matches (played 3): Melbourne Victory wins 2, North Queensland Fury wins 1 (0 draws)