Two of the A-League’s dominant sides in recent years are set for their latest encounter with Sydney FC looking for revenge against Melbourne City after losing to them in last season’s Grand Final.

The Sky Blues will need to pick themselves up to compete in the premier fixture of the A-League’s 16th round against an in-form City side which is battling for first.

League leaders Western United face an unsettled Perth outfit while Macarthur travels to play Arthur Papas’ Newcastle team.

Adelaide prepares for a visit from Central Coast while the Wanderers have to contest with a much-improved Wellington Phoenix.

Sydney hosts Melbourne City on Saturday night and they need maximum points after two draws and a loss.

The current champions came off a 3-2 midweek win against the Mariners though they are still one point behind Victorian rivals Western United, who beat the Sky Blues 1-0 on Wednesday night.

The Sydneysiders will be looking for improvement against City, especially from stars like Kosta Barbarouses who made his return from an ankle injury last week but has only featured off the bench.

“He’s only just coming back. We need to look after him a little bit physically, especially with the three games coming up this week as well. We’ll build him into the games but we have good options with Kosta,” Sydney coach Steve Corica told Neos Kosmos.

A reinvigorated Macarthur visits Newcastle with the aim of repeating their achievement against them in the reverse fixture.

The Bulls are back to their best, winning their last two fixtures, and the Jets know all-too well of their quality after they came from a goal and a man down to defeat them 2-1 on Boxing Day.

Jets manager Arthur Papas is not concerned by this, thinking of them as just their next opposition.

“The motivation is there for every game. They’ve picked up some form again. They’re in a similar boat to us with matches to be played so we’re looking forward to that (game) in basically 72 hours from now, playing again, and we’ll be ready,” Papas said after their 1-0 success over the Wanderers on Wednesday.

Adelaide clashes at home with a misfiring Central Coast as they look to bounce back from a huge loss last round.

The Reds were humbled by Macarthur in their last game (losing 4-1) though they will have to put that aside as they compete with a Mariners team that has gone seven matches winless.

Western United meets with Perth Glory, playing in their temporary home of Tasmania, as they hope to establish a bigger gap in first.

Glory’s season has been stop-start both in terms of COVID and performance but a win over the leaders could get their campaign truly up and running.

Wellington goes on the road to play Western Sydney as the Phoenix looks to maintain their strong run.

The Wanderers will take confidence in having beat the New Zealanders in the reverse fixture though they have been hot and cold since then.

The Nix have, in contrast, gone through a good period of results which sees them firmly in the mix for the top four and that will be all the motivation needed to earn all three points.

The match between Brisbane Roar and Melbourne Victory has been postponed due to forecasts of heavy rain and severe weather.

A-League Round 16 fixtures currently scheduled at time of publication

  • Newcastle Jets-Macarthur FC: 17.05, McDonald Jones Stadium, Sat 26 Feb
  • Adelaide United-CC Mariners: 19.45, Coopers Stadium, Sat 26 Feb
  • Sydney FC-Melbourne City: 19.45, Netstrata Jubilee Stadium, Sat 26 Feb
  • Perth Glory-Western United: 18.45, UTAS Stadium, Sun 27 Feb
  • WS Wanderers-Wellington Phoenix: 18.45, CommBank Stadium, Sun 27 Feb