There will be one less A-League team competing in the Asian Champions League this year after Adelaide United lost its playoff match 2-1 to visiting Chinese Super League team Shandong Luneng, on Tuesday evening. The visitors scored twice in the first half to gain control of the match, and despite going down to 10 men in the second half, held out against the Reds, who could only score a late goal through Cirio.

This week’s Round 19 kicked off last night with Brisbane Roar hosting the Jets. Today’s action starts in Sydney with what should be a closely fought game.

Sydney FC v Perth Glory, Saturday 13 Feb, 5.15 pm, Allianz Stadium
Both these sides have everything to play for. It’s a must win game for fifth-placed Sydney if it wants to keep its Premiership hopes alive, while seventh-placed Glory, which has won its last three matches, needs to keep winning to stay in reach of the top six.

Alex Brosque returns from injury for the Sky Blues and is expected to start with David Carney to strengthen Arnold’s attack.

Glory skipper Richard Garcia also returns from injury. Perth has the offensive weapons to trouble the home side and will look to the speedy Chris Harold to continue his rich vein of scoring, together with the likes of Diego Castro and Andy Keogh.

Melbourne City v Melbourne Victory, Saturday 13 Feb, 7.30 pm, AAMI Park
The battle of the Yarra resumes on Saturday evening with both sides neck and neck on 28 points and looking for a win to stay in touch with the top two.

City was flying a fortnight ago, but has lost its last two games. Both teams will be strengthened by the inclusion of new or returning players. City welcomes new signing, Socceroo defender Alex Wilkinson, and midfielder Anthony Caceras, who returns from suspension. Victory’s attack should benefit from the return from injury of Archie Thompson and from suspension, of Ben Khalfallah.

Victory centre back Delpierre is set to play despite an injury scare against the Wanderers last week, and how fit he is could be a key to this match as he tries to rein in the league’s leading markman, City’s Bruno Fornaroli.

Central Coast Mariners v Adelaide United, Sunday 14 Feb, 3.00 pm, Central Coast Stadium
Sixth-placed Adelaide United, still smarting from its ACL exit earlier in the week, is favoured to bounce back against the bottom of the table Mariners, who were torn apart by the Roar in Brisbane, losing 4-nil last weekend. The Mariners’ Luis Garcia is likely to start for the first time in his fourth outing for the club and, along with the Reds’ Sanchez, Cirio, Carrusca and Isaias, as well as coach Amor, should exert a strong Spanish influence on the match.

The Reds’ defence will be without the suspended Iacopo La Rocca and Tarek Elrich but the visitors should have too many weapons not to come away with a result from Gosford. The home team will rely on the creativity of Garcia and winger Fabio Ferreira to open up the Reds’ defence.

Western Sydney Wanderers v Wellington Phoenix, Sunday 14 Feb, 5.00 pm, Pirtek Stadium
WSW are heavily favoured to stay on top of the ladder after this match, provided some of its fans can resist using flares to celebrate.

Popovic’s team comes up against a Phoenix side keen to avoid a Valentine’s Day massacre. The Phoenix has plunged to ninth place on the ladder without a win in its last nine matches and only one point from its last six games, prompting an apology to the fans from coach Ernie Merrick.

Phoenix has a poor away record against the Wanderers, who despite missing its Spanish midfield duo of Dimas (suspension) and Andreu (hamstring), should be too strong at home against a team whose injury-depleted attack relies heavily on Roly Bonevacia to score.