Newcastle Jets and North Queensland Fury meet for the second time in a matter of days in this rescheduled fixture.
On the weekend, the Jets were far too good for the Fury at Dairy Farmers Stadium, winning 3-1 to go within two points of the final six.
With just defender Adam D'Apuzzo going out of that line-up due to injury, it looks as though the Jets are in a good position to notch up another win which will leave North Queensland holding up the remainder of the clubs at the bottom of the table.
A win would allow the Jets to move up to sixth and I suspect that the coaching staff and players will be doing everything they can to put three points in the bank to set themselves up for a big run home prior to the play-offs.
As for the Fury, they always play with passion but are usually outclassed overall and they will have to completely turn around Saturday night's poor showing if they are to get more than a two-goal loss.
Verdict: Jets 2-0
Newcastle Jets v North Queensland FuryDate: Tuesday, 11 January 2011 Venue: EnergyAustralia Stadium, Newcastle Local kick-off: 7.30pm AEDT Referee: Gerard Parsons Head-to-Head: All matches (played 5): Newcastle Jets wins 4, North Queensland Fury wins 1 (0 draws) Match fact:Newcastle Jets vice-captain Nikolai Topor-Stanley is set to make his 100th Hyundai A-League appearance.
Live and exclusive broadcast on FOX Sports 2, FS2 HD & Sky Sport 2 (NZ). Hyundai A-League club broadcast partner is 1233 ABC Newcastle and Zinc 100.7 (Townsville). To purchase tickets visit www.proticket.com.au
Newcastle Jets squad: 1. Ben KENNEDY (gk), 2. Taylor REGAN, 4. Nikolai TOPOR STANLEY, 7. Kasey WEHRMAN (c), 9. Zhang SHUO, 10. Ruben ZADKOVICH, 11. Tarek ELRICH, 12. Jobe WHEELHOUSE, 13. Sasho PETROVSKI, 14. Labinot HALITI, 17. Marcello FIORENTINI, 18. Marko JESIC, 19. Ali ABBAS, 23. Ryan GRIFFITHS, 50.Jack DUNCAN In: Zhang SHUO (promoted) Out: Adam D'APUZZO (Ligament damage - indefinite) Unavailable: Neil YOUNG (illness - indefinite), Michael BRIDGES (knee - 6 weeks), Jeremy BROCKIE (broken foot - 4-6 weeks), Sean ROONEY (knee - season), Ben KANTAROVSKI (knee - season), Matthew NASH (groin - two weeks), Kaz PATAFTA (groin - one week), Brodie MOOY (shin splints - two weeks), Ljubo MILICEVIC (ankle - two weeks)
North Queensland Fury squad: 1. Justin PASFIELD (gk), 2. Jack HINGERT, 3. Brad McDONALD, 4. Eric AKOTO, 5. Mark HUGHES, 7. Gareth EDDS (c), 8. Adam CASEY, 12. Panagiotis NIKAS, 13. Andre KILIAN, 14. Chris GROSSMAN, 15. Chris PAYNE, 18. Brett STUDMAN, 21. Jason SPAGNUOLO, 24. Ramazan TAVSANCIOGLU, 28. Sebastian USAI (gk) In: Gareth Edds (promoted), Brett Studman (promoted) Out: David Williams (knee - 1 week), Lorenzo SIPI (not selected) Unavailable: Ufuk TALAY (hamstring - 2 weeks), Simon STOREY (lower back - 1 week), Osama MALIK (hamstring - 2-3 weeks), Isaka CERNAK (knee), Matthew HAM (knee - out for the season)
