Central Coast Mariners head into Tuesday's fixture versus Western Sydney Wanderers with the opportunity to extend their lead at the top of the A-League standings.
However, the Wanderers, sitting in fifth position, will move to within three points of the pacesetters with victory at the Bankwest Stadium.
Match preview
On the back of last season's ninth-placed finish, everyone associated with Western Sydney will be satisfied with being in close proximity to the top four.
However, Carl Robinson's side would have been higher in the table had they not gone two matches without success, their most recent game ending in a 1-1 draw with Brisbane Roar.
With that result following a heavy defeat at Melbourne City, Robinson may feel that his group of players are back on track ahead of sensing an opportunity to move into second spot.
Wanderers have scored 10 goals in their last five fixtures, the majority of the strikes coming from Jordan Mutch, Kwame Yeboah and Mitchell Duke.
In the case of Yeboah, he has still only made three starts this campaign, but that could soon change if he continues to produce at his current strike-rate.
The Mariners' have failed to build on their early season form with the leaders claiming just five points from their last four encounters.
Nevertheless, Thursday's comeback victory over Adelaide United has kept the club in top spot, maintaining a three-point lead over in-form Macarthur.
Alou Kuol scored the decisive goal in that contest for his seventh goal of the season, ending a barren spell which had lasted since February 19.
However, the Mariners' backline has kept just one clean sheet in seven matches, something which must improve if they are to retain their advantage over the chasing pack.
- L
- W
- W
- W
- L
- D
- W
- W
- D
- L
- D
- W
Team News
Given the three-day turnaround, Robinson will consider making changes to his Wanderers starting lineup.
However, the front three were all substituted in the 64th minute against Brisbane, something which may have been pre-planned to allow them to start this fixture.
Nicolai Muller, Simon Cox and Bernie Ibini-Isei are the most likely alternatives if Robinson tinkers with his attack.
While the Mariners will have had two extra days to prepare for this meeting, Stajcic is expected to make at least one alternation.
Kuol is in line to replace either Matt Simon or Marco Urena in the final third after scoring as a substitute against Adelaide.
Western Sydney Wanderers possible starting lineup:
Margush; Gordon, McGowan, Mourdoukoutas; Aquilina, Baccus, Dorrans, Wilmering; Duke, Kamau, Yeboah
Central Coast Mariners possible starting lineup:
Birighitti; Nigro, Tongyik, Rowles, Clisby; Boumann, Bozanic, Stensness, Da Silva; Kuol, Urena
We say: Western Sydney Wanderers 1-1 Central Coast Mariners
Neither side have been in the best form of late, and we feel that could lead to a nervy affair being played out at the Bankwest Stadium. Both teams will be relatively content with a share of the spoils, leading us to predict a low-scoring stalemate.
Top tip
body check tags ::
Previews by email
