With just six rounds of the A-League home and away season remaining, it’s looking like a tight race for the Premier’s Plate between three teams – the Western Sydney Wanderers, Adelaide United and Brisbane Roar – although the two Melbourne clubs are still aiming for a top two finish. A lot of the top teams play each other in the run home, so expect some tense battles over the coming weeks.

Both A-League sides performed very well in their midweek ACL matches, with Victory coming away from Gamba Osaka with a 1-1 draw thanks in no small part to some excellent work between the sticks by keeper Danny Vukovic. Victory led through an early own goal before Endo equalised for the hosts.

Earlier on Wednesday evening, Sydney FC kept its hopes of qualifying for the next round alive by defeating Felipe Scolari’s defending ACL champion Guangzhou Evergrande 2-1 on home soil thanks to a late Dimitrijevic winner.

Round 22 of the A-League got under way last night with third-placed Roar desperate to arrest a recent loss of form, hosting league leader Western Sydney Wanderers. The other matches of the round begin in Wellington today.

Wellington Phoenix v Adelaide United, Saturday 5 March, 5.15 pm, Westpac Stadium
Both sides are coming off the back of good wins last round, with Phoenix upsetting the pundits to defeat Melbourne City 2-1 at home. However it will have its work cut out to stop the Adelaide United express from achieving a club record of 14 games undefeated. Last round, the Reds dispatched the Roar 3-nil.

The Phoenix and United have met twice this season with a win apiece, although Phoenix’s first-up win in November was against a very different Adelaide side. Good news for Phoenix fans in the contract extension for Fijian striker Roy Krishna.

Melbourne City v Sydney FC, Saturday 5 March, 7.30 pm, AAMI Park
Despite an excellent performance midweek in the ACL, Sydney comes into this important match desperate to halt a worrying winless streak of six matches which sees it clinging to sixth spot. Added to its woes is a depleted squad. It will be without the suspended Seb Ryall, Rhyan Grant, Jacques Faty and David Carney, and the injured Alex Brosque unavailable through hamstring injury.

City coach John Van ‘t Schip has called for more consistency and defensive solidity from his side. He is expected to bring back winger Harry Novillo from suspension. Both previous meetings between these sides this season have produced draws.

Central Coast Mariners v Melbourne Victory, Sunday 6 March, 5.00 pm, Central Coast Stadium
Mariners striker Rory O’Donovan returns following an eight-match ban, while Victory’s Kosta Barbarouses begins a two-match ban for a dangerous tackle on Sydney midfielder Ninkovic in the 1-1 draw last round.

Despite these changes it’s difficult to see the bottom-placed Mariners getting anything out of this match against a Victory side led by inspirational defender Matthieu Delpierre and which is desperate to get back on the winning track after a run of five winless matches. Victory hasn’t lost to the Mariners in their last eight meetings.

Perth Glory v Newcastle Jets, Tuesday 8 March, 8.00 pm, NIB Stadium
This looms as a crucial match for both teams as they make a late charge for finals football. Perth Glory’s recent excellent run was halted with last week’s 2-1 loss to Western Sydney Wanderers. But if results go its way this round, a win over a team it has defeated in their last six meetings, including a 6-1 drubbing in their last encounter, could see the Glory leap-frog Sydney FC into the top six.

For the Jets the recruitment of players such as Steven Ugarkovic during the transfer window has helped turn its season around with two wins in its last two starts. A win here would see it overtake Glory in the standings.