Perth Glory v Sydney FC
ME Bank Stadium
Sunday 22nd November 2009

Perth Glory were fortunate in that the international break allowed them extra time to recover from their epic away trip to Wellington in Round 14 and they will be reasonably confident of toppling league leaders Sydney FC whose form on the road has been less than impressive. While the West Australians have lost only once at home this term, Vitezslav Lavicka’s men have won just twice on their travels and have looked a shadow of the side that has been so formidable at the Sydney Football Stadium.

In terms of team news, Glory will be without influential midfielder Wayne Srhoj who is suspended, but Jamie Coyne is poised to return to the backline after recovering from a thigh injury and Victor Sikora may be fit enough for a place on the bench following several weeks on the sidelines with a hamstring tear. Naum Sekulovski could be moved forward from left back to left midfield as boss Dave Mitchell attempts to inject some extra pace into his side who have looked a little sluggish in attack at times this season.

The visitors also benefitted from the international break as it enabled key midfield duo Steve Corica and Stuart Musialik to receive additional treatment for their respective hamstring and hip problems, but the Harbour City club now look increasingly unlikely to draft in a high-profile guest player. International legends Luis Figo and Pavel Nedved have both been identified as possible targets, but with guest players allowed a maximum of nine games and not permitted to be used after Round 23, Sydney have seemingly left any such star recruitment too late.

Glory are likely to adopt a compact, narrow formation in a bid to deny Sydney FC space in the middle, while playing early balls into wide areas themselves in a bid to exploit the visitors’ perceived defensive weakness down the flanks. It’s shaping up to be an intriguing tactical battle, but there’s a good chance that the two sides will simply end up cancelling each other out.

Prediction: Perth Glory 1-1 Sydney FC