Round 13 of the Hyundai A-League will kick-off this Friday night in a battle between two teams that aren't used to their current positions on the ladder. Both teams will be out for maximum points to get their seasons back on track after a stuttering opening 12 rounds that sees them only separated by goal difference on 12 points.
Don't miss the action when Brisbane Roar play Newcastle Jets at Suncorp Stadium.
On Saturday we go to the Canberra Stadium where the Central Coast Mariners take their home game on the road to bring some Hyundai A-League action to the nation's capital. They take on Adelaide United in a match that pits these two inaugural teams against each other in a fight to hold a place in the top half of the table.
Gold Coast United will welcome North Queensland Fury to their shores for the second meeting between the Hyundai A-League's two newest teams. It's a battle between the league's two top scorers, Shane Smeltz and Robbie Fowler, in a match that last time finished in a 5 goal blow-out that stamped Smeltz as the league's most potent striker.
On Sunday, Wellington Phoenix will be looking to continue their giant killing ways when they face top-of-the-table Sydney FC. Following Phoenix's 6-0 thumping of last week's league leaders Gold Coast can Wellington look to do it again away from home?
Finally it's the top four clash between Perth Glory and Melbourne Victory at ME Bank Stadium when two of season 5's biggest contenders take to the field to stamp their place near the summit of the table.
Stats, facts & milestones
Brisbane Roar (8) v Newcastle Jets (9) Friday, 30 October 2009, Suncorp Stadium, 7.30pm local (8.30pm AEDT)
- Brisbane Roar will be aiming to avoid their longest run of consecutive defeats when they face Newcastle Jets on Friday night - never before has the Roar lost five Hyundai A-League matches in a row
Central Coast Mariners (5) v Adelaide United (6) Saturday, 31 October 2009, Canberra Stadium, 7.00pm local
- It's a chance for top half of the table consolidation for both these sides as 5 takes on 6 - A slip-up against Adelaide United could potentially see the Mariners drop out of the Hyundai A-League ladder top six for the first time since September 2006
Gold Coast United (3) v North Queensland Fury (10) Saturday, 31 October 2009, Skilled Park, 8.00pm local (9.00pm AEDT)
- Gold Coast United striker Shane Smeltz is set to make his 50th Hyundai A-League appearance
Sydney FC (1) v Wellington Phoenix (7) Sunday, 1 November 2009, Sydney Football Stadium, 5.00pm local
- Wellington is coming off one of the most stunning performances in Australian national league history after defeating then first-placed Gold Coast 6-0 last weekend; this was the first time for almost six years that a first-placed team has lost by more than five goals, when Parramatta Power defeated then first-placed Perth Glory 6-0 on 2 November, 2003 - Gates open at 2.00pm for the Sydney FC v Adelaide United Westfield W-League match
Perth Glory (4) v Melbourne Victory (2) Sunday, 1 November 2009, ME Bank Stadium, 4.00pm local (7.00pm AEDT)
- Being undefeated in their previous six home matches, Perth Glory will be aiming to equal their highest consecutive run of undefeated matches at home (7), set in September 2007. The Glory have not lost at home since 26 December 2008 (L0-1 v Adelaide United) - Gates open at 1.00pm for the Perth Glory v Melbourne Victory National Youth League match
Birthday celebrations
- Adelaide United's Daniel Mullen turns 20 today, Monday, 26 October - Wellington Phoenix's Troy Hearfield turns 22 on Saturday, 31 October
