‘Focus’ is the mantra for Kenny Lowe and his Perth Glory troops as the team faces another Hyundai A-League leader for the second time in a week.
Glory will clash against the Western Sydney Wanderers on Friday night at Pirtek Stadium in Parramatta in what will be the final encounter for both teams in the regular season.
A win for Glory will result in a top-six spot for the first time this year.
Last time Perth and the Wanderers met, they played out a 2-2 draw at nib Stadium, which featured a stunning free-kick from Glory’s Mitch Oxborrow.
Lowe said last week’s amazing 6-3 thumping over previous ladder leaders Brisbane Roar had not affected the team’s mindset.
“We’re a fairly balanced group. A lot of people have played at a very good level. They understand what it is. They’ll want to go to a certain place by the end of the year and to do that they need to make choices and at the moment they’re doing that.”
But he was quick to point out there was still a long road ahead.
“It’s all euphoria. We’re still 7th in the league…C’mon let’s keep the ball on the floor and be sensible. It’s a successful year at the end of the year it’s not a successful year now” he cautioned.
Asked whether glory ‘keeper Ante Covic would play, after dislocating his finger in last week’s match, Lowe said “I think if he had a broken arm he’d play this game”.
The Wanderers have the edge over Glory in recent years with Perth only winning once at Parramatta.
But after winning five games in a row, momentum is definitely with the Western Australians.
Kick-off is at 4.40pm WST.
MATCH DETAILS
Friday, 26 February 2016
Western Sydney Wanderers FC v Perth Glory
Pirtek Stadium, Parramatta
Kick-Off: 4.40pm WST
Referee: Strebre Delovski
Assistant Referee 1: James Tesoriero
Assistant Referee 2: Andrej Giev
Fourth Official: Luke Withell
TV Broadcast: Live coverage on FOX SPORTS 505 from 7.30pm (AEDT), SBS TWO from 7:30pm AEDT and Sky Sport 3 (New Zealand)
Radio Broadcast: 702 ABC Sydney, Grandstand Digital, Online & via the ABC Radio Mobile App – A-league Live. Crocmedia A-League Live (www.facebook.com/A-leagueLIVERadio).
Join the conversation on Twitter using the hash-tag #WSWvPER
Western Sydney Wanderers FC squad: 2.Shannon COLE, 3.Scott JAMIESON, 4.Nikolai TOPOR-STANLEY, 5.Brendan HAMILL, 6.Mitch NICHOLS, 7.Romeo CASTELEN, 8.DIMAS, 10.Dario VIDOSIC, 11.Brendon SANTALAB, 12.Scott NEVILLE, 15.Kearyn BACCUS,16.Jaushua SOTIRIO, 17.ALBERTO, 18.ANDREU, 19.Mark BRIDGE, 20.Andrew REDMAYNE (gk), 21.Jacob PEPPER, 30.Liam REDDY (gk) **two to be omitted**
Ins: 17.ALBERTO (returns from suspension), 21.Jacob PEPPER (promoted)
Outs: nil
Unavailable: nil
Perth Glory FC squad: 1. Ante COVIC, 2. Alex GRANT, 3. Marc WARREN, 4.Shane LOWRY, 6. Dino DJULBIC, 7.Gyorgy SANDOR, 9.Andy KEOGH, 10.Nebojsa MARINKOVIC, 11.Richard GARCIA, 12.Jerrad TYSON (gk), 13.Diogo FERREIRA, 14.Chris HAROLD, 17.Diego CASTRO, 18. Mitch OXBORROW, 19.Josh RISDON,
21. Kosta PETRATOS, 23.Krisztian VADOCZ, 29. Aryn WILLIAMS **two to be omitted**
Ins: 3. Marc WARREN, 6.Dino DJULBIC
Outs: –
Unavailable: 8.Ruben ZADKOVICH (knee – indefinite)
