The final international break of the season is over and we’re all set for the run home in the A-League.
It is shaping up as one of the closest endings to a regular season in the competition’s almost two-decade history with every team having something to play for, be it the premiership, a home final or even just making the finals.
Melbourne City will be looking to stave off challenges from Adelaide and Western Sydney as they chase another premiership while just 10 points separates fourth placed Central Coast and last placed Melbourne Victory.
With five rounds remaining, every minute matters on the run home and we’ve got you covered with our tips and previews for every game coming up this weekend.
After a week off the A-League is kicking off with a bang as second visits third in a potentially pivotal clash.
The Reds were on a tear prior to the break, recording three straight wins and unbeaten in their last ten matches sending them flying up the ladder.
As for the Wanderers, they have had a fortnight to enjoy a 4-0 belting of Sydney FC in the derby and will be full of confidence ahead of this clash.
When they met in mid-February, we were treated to an all time footballing classic that finished 4-4 and we’re going to start the weekend off by backing another high scoring affair.
Adelaide’s last three games have all featured six total goals and with Brandon Borello and Craig Goodwin leading the lines, this should turn into another shootout.
In a normal season, fifth taking on last would see a much greater disparity in the match result market, but there should be some value to be found here.
The Nix remain a strong team at home and should be able to respond well to their last up defeat in Adelaide which was not representative of the side Ufuk Talay has built.
While the Victory recorded a win over the Mariners in their most recent outing, consistency remains a massive issue for Tony Popovic’s side and with rumours starting to swirl of an offseason cleanout following a disappointing campaign it is going to be tough to back them with any confidence.
This is going to be the Victory’s first trip to Wellington in over three years and their last win across the Tasman came in December 2017.
Keep it simple here and take the price on the Nix at home against a side whose finals hopes are mathematical at best.
Despite entering the weekend in fourth place, the Mariners will not be feeling all that great about their current predicament with just two wins in their last nine outings.
One of those victories did come against the Roar up in Redcliffe however this is a different Brisbane team to the one they defeated in February.
Under interim coach Nick Green Brisbane have won two of their last four and their attack has been revitalised with the additions of Jez Lofthouse and Stefan Scepovic.
The Roar have a good record in Gosford, winning on eight of their last ten visits to the venue and will be going all out to try and bridge the four point gap between themselves and Sydney FC.
This is a game that could go either way and the value is there on the visitors but instead we are going to play it a bit safer and take over 2.5 goals, which has hit in six of the last seven matches between the two sides in Gosford.
The reigning champions can give their finals hopes a massive boost by going to Sydney and springing an upset on the Sky Blues.
With just two points between the clubs and Sydney very much reeling after a Round 20 Derby hammering, sixth spot is there for the taking if any of the chasing pack can string a few results together.
With the experience at their disposal, as well as a number of difference makers that can break a game open at any given moment, the visitors are a much better chance than their $4.20 quote.
Not that the punters should mind, they can back John Aloisi’s men at a decent price and not think twice about it.
Perth gets one more chance to salute at Macedonia Park as they play their final match of the season at their home away from home.
Macarthur’s run of results since the New Year makes for grim reading with the club taking just 11 points out of a possible 36 to undo their strong start to the season.
To further rub salt into the Bulls’ wounds, Daniel Arzarni has been ruled out for the remainder of the season which will not help their push for finals football.
This is another opportunity for punters to keep it simple and back Perth at home.
If you have seen Melbourne City play in recent weeks, you would not think that they are entering the weekend four points clear at the top of the A-League ladder.
We have seen flashes of dominance but with just two wins from their last five, City is not the automatic selection they once were.
However it is also entirely possible that with a comfortable lead at the top of the ladder, they hit cruise control and are planning on moving up the gears with finals on the horizon.
If they manage to string together a few decent passages of play they should be able to handle a Newcastle Jets side that is in a tailspin.
With one point from their last four matches, Newcastle’s push for finals football has stalled and it’s tough to see them matching whichever version of City shows up.