Head-to-head
Nine A-league meetings: Queensland - 3 wins, Central Coast - 1 win, 5 draws
Four Pre-Season Cup meetings: Queensland - 1 win, Central Coast - 1 win, 2 draws

Previous meeting
Queensland Roar 2, Central Coast Mariners 1, Round 16, 2007

Pre-Season Cup Results
Queensland:
Round 1: Sydney FC 2, Queensland Roar 1, Campbelltown Stadium, Saturday July 19
Round 2: Queensland Roar 1, Wellington Phoenix 1, Sunshine Coast, Saturday July 26

Central Coast Mariners:
Round 1: Wellington Phoenix 1, Central Coast Mariners 0, Westpac Stadium, Sunday July 20
Round 2: Central Coast Mariners 3, Sydney FC 0, Central Coast, Saturday July 26

Previous Pre-Season Cup Results
Queensland:
2007: Third (Defeated Central Coast 3-1 in third-place playoff)
2006: Seventh (Defeated New Zealand 2-1 in seventh-place playoff)
2005: Group Stage (Third in Group B)

Central Coast:
2007: Fourth (Lost to Queensland 3-1 in third-place playoff)
2006: Runners-up (Lost 5-4 on penalties to Adelaide in Final)
2005: Champions (Defeated Perth 1-0 in final)

Analysis
Queensland's hopes of progressing through to the final of the Pre-Season Cup are slim, but Roar can upset the Mariners' ambitions of winning the title with success here. Queensland's overall record against the Mariners is very strong with just one loss to them over the three years of the A-League. But five of the nine matches have resulted in draws. They also drew 1-1 when they met in the group stage of this competition last year.

Dutchman Sergio Van Dijk has made a considerable impression at his new club with a goal in each of the two games so far. Frank Farina has coaxed Brazilian Reinaldo back to the club and while he won't play this week, it is a big boost for the club. Roar had yet to confirm their squad at publication time.

All the talk on the Central Coast last week was Mark Bosnich, after the former Socceroo stopped a penalty and pulled off a string of saves in a wonderful return to football. But while Bosnich did his chances of a long-term deal with the Mariners no harm, the fact that Lawrie McKinna's men were able to knock three goals past Sydney is a sign of health at both ends of the field.

Brad Porter, Sasho Petrovski and Nik Mrdja all got on the scoresheet. Mrdja's effort was best received after spending so much time on the sidelines through injury in recent times. The Mariners may have lost John Aloisi, but the return of such a prolific striker to full fitness is a huge bonus. He re-signed during the week along with Andrew Clark. They also added defender Pedj Bojic to their stocks this week.

Club commitments see Bojic and David D'Apuzzo unavailable, while Clark is suspended. Nigel Boogard returns.

The win against Sydney showed how dynamic the Hyundai A-League Premiers are and a win here, and anything but a win from Wellington against Sydney, would see them through to their third Pre-Season Cup final.

Queensland Roar Squad:
Not named

Central Coast Mariners Squad:
2. Andre GUMPRECHT, 5. Bradley PORTER, 7. John HUTCHINSON, 9. Nik MRDJA, 10. Adrian CACERES, 11. Dylan MACALLISTER, 16. Nigel BOOGAARD, 17. Matthew OSMAN, 18. Alex WILKINSON, 20. Danny VUKOVIC (gk), 21. Ahmad ELRICH, 22. Sasho PETROVSKI, 40. Mark BOSNICH (gk)

In: 16. Nigel BOOGAARD (Returns from International Duty)

Out: 4. Pedj BOJIC (Club Commitments [Sutherland Sharks, NSW Premier League] – 1 week), 6. David D'APUZZO (Club Commitments [APIA Leichhardt, NSW Premier League] – 1 week), 15. Andrew CLARK (Suspended – 1 week)

Unavailable: 4. Pedj BOJIC (Club Commitments – 1 week), 6. David D'APUZZO (Club Commitments – 1 week), 8. Dean HEFFERNAN (Ankle – Indefinite), 12. Greg OWENS (Hamstring – Indefinite), 13. Paul O'GRADY (Achilles – Indefinite), 15. Andrew CLARK (Suspended – 1 week), 19. Matt SIMON (International Duty), 23. Mile JEDINAK (Groin – Indefinite).