Glory’s pre-season preparations will ramp up on Wednesday when they face Hyundai A-League rivals Adelaide United in a behind-closed-doors friendly at Coopers Stadium (kick off at 5.30pm WST, 7pm local).
Tony Popovic’s men have enjoyed a series of hit-outs against local opposition in recent weeks, plus two games in Malaysia, but will now face a sterner test in the form of a Reds side that has been substantially re-shaped since the end of last season.
And Popovic feels that the clash is exactly what his charges need with the start of the new A-League campaign now less than five weeks away.
“It’ll be the first time we’ve faced A-League opposition since the FFA Cup game against Victory,” he said, “and it’s a really key part of our pre-season preparations.
“This game is another important step towards the ultimate objective which is, of course, the opening fixture of the season on October 21st and the whole group is looking forward to it.
“It’ll be a good challenge against a good Adelaide side and travelling together again will also be useful as we look to get closer and closer as a group.”
Opposite number Marco Kurz could include a number of new faces in his squad, notably Craig Goodwin, who has returned to the A-League from Sparta Rotterdam, new German midfielder Mirko Boland and defender Michael Jakobsen who has arrived after spending the last two seasons with Melbourne City.
At the request of the Adelaide United coaching staff, there will be no live coverage of the game, but a full match report will appear here shortly after the final whistle.
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