Head-to-head:

Played 18: Wins: Sydney FC 5, Brisbane Roar 6, Draws: 7

Previous Meeting:
Brisbane Roar 1-0 Sydney FC, August 2010

History:
This is a match up that has always been keenly contested with never too much separating the two sides when they go head-to-head. While the win-loss record between the two clubs is very similar (Sydney 5 wins, Brisbane 6), it's been Roar who have enjoyed this fixture the most in recent years. Brisbane have lost just one of their last 11 matches against the Sky Blues including a tight 1-0 win at Suncorp Stadium earlier this season. But Sydney does have one stat working in their favour, having never lost to Roar in their eight games at the SFS.

Past five matches:
Sydney FC: WLLDD
Brisbane Roar: WWDWW

Match Committee:
After securing their first win of the season last weekend Sydney coach Vitezslav Lavicka has stuck with the same squad for the match with Roar. Midfielder Stuart Musialik and youngsters Terry Antonis, Kofi Danning and Dimitri Petratos are expected to be the ones to miss out again providing skipper Terry McFlynn (calf) and midfielder Nicky Carle (ankle) shrug off their injury concerns to take their place.

It's a similar situation for Roar with coach Ange Postecoglou just adding Milan Susak to the squad that beat Melbourne Victory 2-1 last weekend. Susak, who missed that match with a hamstring injury, is vying for a spot on the bench with Rocky Visconte. Defender Shane Stefanutto (hamstring) will sit out another week but should be available for the club's next home match against Adelaide United.

Danger men:
Bruno Cazarine - There were a few eyebrows raised when Vitezslav Lavicka plucked Cazarine from lower league Brazilian club Vila Nova but the burly striker has certainly lived up to the Sydney boss's expectations. The 27-year-old has netted four times in just seven games this season, including a sensational double last weekend against Perth which handed the defending champions their first win of the season. The Sky Blues will need a similar impact from the big Brazilian if they are to breach one of the A-League's most miserly defences.

Michael Theoklitos - It might sound a little strange to nominate a goalkeeper as a major threat to Sydney's chances of victory but in Theoklitos Roar have a No.1 that has proved incredibly hard to beat. The former Victory shot-stopper has been in sensational form this season and has been a major reason why Ange Postecoglou's side have conceded just seven goals in their 11 games. He provides a stable influence behind the team's inexperienced central defence pairing of Luke Devere and Matt Smith and if Theoklitos can keep Sydney at bay, Roar have enough attacking arsenal in Reinaldo, Thomas Broich and Kosta Barbarouses to get the job done at the other end.

At the end of the day….
After a dreadful start to their title defence, things might finally be looking up for Sydney FC after last weekend's first win of the season. Lavicka seemed to get the balance right with his team, they looked threatening in attack and kept their first clean sheet of the season.

But all the relief and hope for a resurgence that win has brought the Sky Blues will count for little unless they can back it up with a first home win of the season. The top six might only be six points away but there's also four other teams between them and the playoffs and another defeat will make things very difficult for the defending champions' finals hopes.

In contrast things couldn't be much better for Roar, unbeaten in six matches and hot on the heels of league leaders Adelaide. They may have never won at the SFS but have never made the trip on the back of such dominant form. Confidence will no doubt be high for Roar to break their Sydney hoodoo but after the home side finally got their season back on track expect Brisbane's wait to continue for another game at least.

Teams:
Sydney FC: 1. Liam REDDY (gk), 2. Sebastian RYALL, 3. Stephan KELLER, 5. Hayden FOXE, 6. Hirofumi MORIYASU, 7. Brendan GAN, 8. Stuart MUSIALIK, 9. Bruno CAZARINE, 10. Nicky CARLE, 11. Kofi DANNING, 12. Shannon COLE, 14. Alex BROSQUE, 15. Terry MCFLYNN (c), 16. Terry ANTONIS, 19. Mark BRIDGE, 20. Ivan NECEVSKI (gk), 21. Scott JAMIESON, 22. Sung-Hwan BYUN, 24. Dimitri PETRATOS (four to be omitted)

In: Nil
Out: Nil
Unavailable: Nil

Brisbane Roar: 1. Michael THEOKLITOS (gk), 2. Matt SMITH, 3. Luke DEVERE, 5. Ivan FRANJIC, 6. Erik PAARTALU, 7. Kosta BARBAROUSES, 8. Massimo MURDOCCA, 9. Jean Carlos SOLORZANO, 11. REINALDO, 12. Matt MUNDY, 14. Rocky VISCONTE, 15. Matt McKAY (c), 17. Mitch NICHOLS, 20. Andrew REDMAYNE (gk), 22. Thomas BROICH, 23. Milan SUSAK (one to be omitted)

In: Milan SUSAK (returns from hamstring injury)
Out: Nil
Unavailable: Shane STEFANUTTO (Hamstring – 1 week), HENRIQUE (broken arm – indefinite)