Head-to-head

Played 3: Central Coast 1, Drawn: 2

Previous Meeting
Central Coast 1, North Queensland 1, Bluetongue Stadium, January 2010

History
These two teams have played each other just the three times and Fury's worst home defeat came against the Mariners in November last year when they lost 5-1, with Nik Mrdja scoring a double in that match. Daniel McBreen scored the equaliser for Fury in their last match and after a detour through Perth will line up for the Mariners in this match.

Past five matches:
Central Coast: DWWDL
North Queensland: DLDLL

Match Committee
The Mariners get back Oliver Bozanic from Olyroos duty for this match and he has been included in an extended squad as well as Mrdja, who has a back injury and Chris Doig, who will be looking to make his first appearance for the season. Trent Sainsbury (knee) is another fortnight away from returning.

Fury are backing up from Wednesday's 1-1 draw against Sydney, so have opted for an extended squad. Dyron Daal is back from a hamstring injury, while Brett Studman, Panagiotis Nikas, Jason Spagnuolo have all been included. Ufuk Talay is still suspended while Adam Casey is another week away with an injured calf.

Danger men
Patricio Perez - After his controversial entry into the Hyundai A-League, the Argentine is primed to fulfil the reputation he has carried since arriving at the Mariners. He is the type of dynamic playmaker Graham Arnold's team needs and having played 80 minutes in their last game should be approaching top fitness.

Jack Hingert - The young wing-back impressed greatly when he came on against Sydney on Wednesday, helping pull the Fury back into the game with his hard running and general enthusiasm. He is not the most polished performer, but his effort can not be faulted.

At the end of the day….
Fury have lost their way a little bit over the past month, failing to notch a win in their past six matches. Franz Straka has demanded a lot of his players and perhaps the talent pool isn't there to justify such lofty ambitions of style.

Maybe he is starting to get a sense of this as Fury have been much more defensively sound over the past few matches. They were well outplayed for much of the game against Sydney but managed to hang in there and get themselves a point thanks to a great finish from an otherwise quiet David Williams.

The Mariners had last week off to rest-up after a hectic start to the season, but they suddenly find themselves in a spell of just two games in about six weeks thanks to the ridiculous nature of the draw. It's partially because they will be digging up the turf at Bluetongue after this match.

They are really starting to look every bit like a Graham Arnold team having kept clean sheets in their last three games. They will benefit greatly with having Perez back in the side and perhaps that will liven things up after just six goals in seven games from the Mariners.

Expect them to be a little more enterprising at home and to capitalise on the fatigue of their rivals.

Central Coast Mariners squad: 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, 30. Paul HENDERSON (gk)
*two to be omitted*

In: Oliver BOZANIC (returns from national team duty), 9.Nik MRDJA (returns from back injury), 17.Chris DOIG (returns from calf injury)
Out: Nil
Unavailable: Trent SAINSBURY (knee – 2 weeks), Jess VANSTRATTAN (knee – season), Mustafa AMINI, Sam GALLAGHER, Marc WARREN (national team duty)

North Queensland Fury squad: 1. Justin PASFIELD (gk), 2. Jack HINGERT, 3. Brad McDONALD, 4. Eric AKOTO, 5. Mark HUGHES, 7. Gareth EDDS (c), 9. Eugene SSEPPUYA, 10. Dyron DAAL, 11. David WILLIAMS, 12. Panagiotis NIKAS, 13. Andre KILIAN, 14. Chris GROSSMAN, 15. Chris PAYNE, 16. Simon STOREY, 17. Osama MALIK, 18. Brett STUDMAN, 19. Isaka CERNAK, 21. Jason SPAGNUOLO, 28. Sebastian USAI (gk)
*four to be omitted*
In: 10. Dyron DAAL (returns from hamstring injury), 18. Brett STUDMAN (promoted), 12. Panagiotis NIKAS (promoted), 21. Jason SPAGNUOLO (promoted)
Out: Nil
Unavailable: 6. Ufuk Talay (suspended – 1 match), 8. Adam CASEY (calf – 1 week), 20. Matthew HAM (knee – 3 weeks)