FRIDAY
Perth Glory v Newcastle Jets at Members Equity Stadium, 7pm
Head to head: Perth 5, Newcastle 2, drawn 2
Last meeting: Newcastle 2 bt Perth 1 at EnergyAustralia Stadium, Jan 2008.
TAB Sportsbet: Perth $2.30, draw $3.30, Newcastle $2.85
The Glory have hardly lit up the competition since the A-League's inception, so why then would champions Newcastle have any concerns? Well, in nine regular season meetings, Newcastle have snared all three points just twice, with the Glory taking the spoils five times. But Perth's bid to continue that outstanding run has taken a massive hit through injury. The Glory's twin towers at the centre of defence, Hayden Foxe (foot) and David Tarka (thigh), have been ruled out, leaving coach Dave Mitchell to rely on a makeshift back four. In contrast, the Jets' defence will be bolstered by the return of skipper Jade North from Olyroos duties. What the Glory lack in defence they make up for with international flair, with Ivory Coast striker Eugene Dadi, Argentine playmaker Adrian Trinidad and Brazilian midfielder Amaral set to team up for the first time. The Jets' Ecuadorian acquisition Edmundo Zura will be better after last week's run.
Key: How the Glory's international trio of Dadi, Amaral and Trinidad gel in their first hit-out together.
Tip: Newcastle
SATURDAY
Central Coast Mariners v Sydney FC at Bluetongue Stadium, 7pm
Head to head: Central Coast 3, Sydney 5, drawn 2
Last meeting: Sydney 5 bt Central Coast 4 at Bluetongue Stadium, Dec 2007.
TAB Sportsbet: Central Coast $2.50, draw $3.35, Sydney $2.55
Something always happens when these two sides clash. Whether it be a nine-goal thriller, a winner from Sasho Petrovski against his former club, or a penalty save from Mark Bosnich, the fans tend to go home happy. Petrovski has stoked the fire saying Sydney are placing unnecessary pressure on themselves by talking up their title chances, setting the tone for another fiery derby. Sydney will be without marquee striker John Aloisi (foot) and captain Tony Popovic (virus), while the Mariners have new signings Dylan Macallister and Bosnich available. Defender Nigel Boogaard also returns from injury. Both sides were up against it - and perhaps fortunate to come away with draws - in their first round clashes and will be keen to take the ascendancy in this one. Due to the short and highly competitive nature of the A-League, both sides will be desperate to get their campaigns rolling with a win, while a loss could leave them playing catch up.
Key: Sydney are still below full-strength so the two sides look evenly contested on paper. Perhaps it will be up to the faithful Mariners crowd to lift their side to a big win.
Tip: Mariners
SUNDAY
Wellington Phoenix v Melbourne Victory at Westpac Stadium, 3pm
Head to head: Wellington 0, Melbourne 1, drawn 2
Last meeting: Melbourne 3 bt Wellington 0 at Telstra Dome, Jan 2008.
TAB Sportsbet: Wellington $3.30, draw $3.35, Melbourne $2.05
The Victory were disappointed after missing good chances in their opening round scoreless draw with Sydney and will be desperate to get on the board against the Phoenix. Coach Ernie Merrick will be mindful that a run of five draws to start last season put them behind the pace, so will be keen to post an early win. Not helping Melbourne's cause is that star striker Archie Thompson, who missed the Sydney clash with a foot injury, will again be absent, as will midfielder Nick Ward (calf). But Thompson won't be as sorely missed as in previous seasons, thanks to the presence of new Brazilian striker Ney Fabiano, who impressed alongside Danny Allsopp up front in his first A-League game last weekend. The Phoenix improved in the second half, after a nervous start in their 1-1 home draw with Queensland Roar in round one. They'll be keen to take all three points at home before they make their first trip across the Tasman to play Adelaide in round three.
Key: In Thompson's absence, Fabiano will be crucial to the Victory's hopes and eager to score the first goal of the season for his new club.
Tip: Draw
Queensland Roar v Adelaide United at Suncorp Stadium, 5pm
Head to head: Queensland 2, Adelaide 4, drawn 3
Last meeting: Adelaide 2 bt Queensland 0 at Hindmarsh Stadium, Jan 2008.
TAB Sportsbet: Queensland $2.20, draw $3.30, Adelaide $3.30
Adelaide enter this fixture as the only team to have posted a win on a dour first weekend of the A-League. Queensland missed out on all three points in Wellington due to a Shane Smeltz strike in the second half. Despite the discrepancy in results, both sides have much to work on. United were only sporadically convincing in winning 1-0 against a Perth side not expected to be among the league frontrunners this year, while the Roar's level of concentration was not as it should have been against the Phoenix. At Hindmarsh, Perth had attempted to exploit a slow-looking Adelaide defensive combination - Sasa Ognenovski and Ang Costanzo - by throwing on Olyroo Nikita Rukavytsya for the second half. He was unable to do so due to a lack of quality through-balls but expect more of the same this week as Michael Zullo attempts to play off the shoulder of former Roar stopper Ognenovski.
Key: Zullo and Ognenovski have indulged in some verbal jousting this week, and their on-field encounter will go a long way to deciding the outcome of this match.
Tip: Draw