CENTRAL Coast Mariners boss Lawrie McKinna believes Saturday's A-League clash with Adelaide United is the first of two huge games that could make or break the club's season.
Placed just outside the top four but within touching distance of the summit of the A-League, the Mariners face beaten AFC Champions League finalists Adelaide United at Bluetongue Stadium on Saturday.
Should the Mariners defeat Adelaide on Saturday night, they will be rewarded with a season-high second placing ahead of Round 12’s trip south to face A-League leaders Melbourne Victory at the Telstra Dome.
The Mariners will be represented by a near unchanged line up, with Nigel Boogaard returning at the expense of injured team-mate Paul O’Grady.
O’Grady was withdrawn at half-time of the Mariners’ last outing with a groin strain and has not recovered in time to retain his place in the yellow and navy starting side.
Long-term injury concern Dean Heffernan has returned to training and is expected to challenge for a squad berth within one month, while Andrew Clark’s recovery from a shoulder injury is likely to see the local veteran eligible for selection next week.
Meanwhile, A-League squad members Andre Gumprecht, Andrea Merenda, Matthew Nash and Chris Tadrosse will each get their chance to push for first-team selection when running out for the Mariners’ National Youth League team in the curtain-raiser fixture.
McKinna said: "Although we had a week off last week, we trained reasonably hard, we came into our last game after a break against the Wellington Phoenix underdone and we’re making sure that we won’t do the same with this game.
"It’s a big game for the club, if we win this one we go second in the A-League, we’re very happy with where we’re at in the season, but we really need to get a few wins together now.
"It’s going to be hard for Adelaide, I don’t agree that they’ll be tired, I think they’ve dealt with their workload brilliantly, Viddie has done a good job and credit to them, they’ve been fantastic for Australian football.
"The next two weeks will make or break our season, if we lose the next two games we could be at the bottom of the table, if we win the next two games we could be at the top of the Hyundai A-League.
"It’s a huge two games for us and I think our boys will rise to the occasion and hopefully we’ll have a big crowd this Saturday coming out to support us and showing their support to Adelaide United for the great run that they’ve had."
Should the Mariners defeat Adelaide on Saturday night, they will be rewarded with a season-high second placing ahead of Round 12’s trip south to face A-League leaders Melbourne Victory at the Telstra Dome.
The Mariners will be represented by a near unchanged line up, with Nigel Boogaard returning at the expense of injured team-mate Paul O’Grady.
O’Grady was withdrawn at half-time of the Mariners’ last outing with a groin strain and has not recovered in time to retain his place in the yellow and navy starting side.
Long-term injury concern Dean Heffernan has returned to training and is expected to challenge for a squad berth within one month, while Andrew Clark’s recovery from a shoulder injury is likely to see the local veteran eligible for selection next week.
Meanwhile, A-League squad members Andre Gumprecht, Andrea Merenda, Matthew Nash and Chris Tadrosse will each get their chance to push for first-team selection when running out for the Mariners’ National Youth League team in the curtain-raiser fixture.
McKinna said: "Although we had a week off last week, we trained reasonably hard, we came into our last game after a break against the Wellington Phoenix underdone and we’re making sure that we won’t do the same with this game.
"It’s a big game for the club, if we win this one we go second in the A-League, we’re very happy with where we’re at in the season, but we really need to get a few wins together now.
"It’s going to be hard for Adelaide, I don’t agree that they’ll be tired, I think they’ve dealt with their workload brilliantly, Viddie has done a good job and credit to them, they’ve been fantastic for Australian football.
"The next two weeks will make or break our season, if we lose the next two games we could be at the bottom of the table, if we win the next two games we could be at the top of the Hyundai A-League.
"It’s a huge two games for us and I think our boys will rise to the occasion and hopefully we’ll have a big crowd this Saturday coming out to support us and showing their support to Adelaide United for the great run that they’ve had."
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