With just one win in five, the limelight of the round 10 of A-League is on Melbourne Victory, that hosts Perth Glory tonight at AAMI Park.
Kevin Muscat has faced a difficult start to his first senior coaching role; with just one win in five since he took over and goals not coming as often as with his predecessor. Defeat at the hands of Newcastle last weekend ended a five game unbeaten run at home for the Victory.
Sixth on the ladder, Victory has failed to score in two of their past four games.
In the history of their earlier encounters, Victory has won three of last four A-League clashes with Perth.
Winless Wellington Phoenix will face first on the ladder Brisbane Roar in a home match on Saturday. Brisbane Roar have extended their lead at the league’s summit to 5 points.
With Phoenix loosing seven of their last 10 clashes with Brisbane, and Brisbane having the most wins of any team in the competition and the most away wins, it will be a hard game for New Zealand side.
To carve out a win, Phoenix will have to stop Roar hitman Besart Berisha, who scored four goals in three games since coming back from injury.
Undefeated in their last three games, the fifth on the ladder Central Gold Coast Mariners have started to show glimpses of the form that won them the A-League title last season.
On Saturday, Mariners will play away match with Adelaide United, a side without a win in eight A-League matches.
Western Sydney Wanderers, who will take on Newcastle Jets in what will be the top-of-the-ladder clash, have never gone four games without a win since they joined the A-League last season.
But on Saturday night, they will face that possibility when they travel north to meet the Jets who are enjoying their best start to a season. Jets won four of their past five matches.
After winning their last seven away games last season, this season the Wanderers have won just two of their five away games. They will enter the game without striker Tomi Juric.
With their star player Alessandro Del Piero set to return from injury, Sydney FC will welcome Melbourne Heart on Sunday.
Sydney is yet to drop a single point from leading positions this season, while Melbourne Heart’s winless run now stretches to 14 A-League matches. Last time the two sides met, Sydney won easily, but Aloisi’s Heart have showed signs on rejuvenation in recent times.
Head Coach John Aloisi said he was pleased with Harry Kewell’s return from Saturday injury.