Perth Glory will be looking to climb off the foot of the A-League table when they welcome Wellington Phoenix to Macedonia Park on Friday.
While the hosts have lost six of their last eight matches across all competitions, the visitors have only suffered defeat once in their last five games and they came away with maximum points against Adelaide United last time out.
Match preview
Perth Glory were unable to follow up their 2-1 victory against Western United with another three points as they suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat away against Macarther last weekend.
After a goalless first half, Bachana Arabuli broke the deadlock for the hosts in the 71st minute, condemning the Glory to their fifth league defeat of the campaign.
Ruben Zadkovich's side finished rock bottom of the A-League last season and they remain at the foot of the table after seven matches this term, although a win against Wellington Phoenix could see them climb up to 10th place.
Having won only two of their 19 away matches in 2022, Perth Glory will welcome a return to home soil where they are unbeaten in each of their last three matches.
However, the Glory have failed to come out on top in any of their last five meetings with Wellington Phoenix, with this run including four defeats, and the Yellow Army seem to be in better shape heading into Friday's contest.
Indeed, Ufuk Talay's side claimed maximum points in a 3-1 home victory against 10-man Adelaide United last weekend, with Oskar Zawada, Bozhidar Kraev and Yan Sasse all on the scoresheet for the hosts.
Wellington Phoenix, who are the only New Zealand-based club competing in the Australian top flight, currently sit sixth in the table after eight matches, six points behind leaders Melbourne City who they will lock horns with in their first game of 2023.
The Yellow Army have had no problems finding the net so far this season, as they have scored in all eight A-League matches and have notched up a total of 16 goals, which can only be bettered by Central Coast Mariners (18) at this stage of the season.
Wellington have failed to win each of their last three games on the road, however, so they will be keen to turn their fortunes around on their travels with a victory against a Perth Glory side whom they last lost against in August 2020.
Team News
Perth Glory boss Zadkovich's has revealed that a few members of his squad have minor fitness issues and their potential absences could see others provided with an opportunity in the starting lineup.
The likes of John Koutroumbis, Zach Duncan and Ben Azubel all began on the substitutes' bench last time out and they will be pushing for a starting berth on Friday.
As for Wellington Phoenix, they were boosted by the return of captain Alex Rufer, who came on as a late substitute last weekend after being out of action since March with a knee injury.
The 26-year-old is unlikely to be thrown into the first XI on Friday, though, with Steven Ugarkovic and Clayton Lewis expected to retain their places in centre-midfield.
Bozhidar Kraev, who has five goals to his name so far this season and is only behind Jamie Maclaren (nine) in the scoring charts, is set to continue on the left flank, while David Ball and Oskar Zawada lead the line up front.
Perth Glory possible starting lineup:
Reddy; Khelifi, Muir, Beevers, Lachman, Clisby; R. Williams, Duncan, McEneff, Jelacic; D. Williams
Wellington Phoenix possible starting lineup:
Sail; Elliot, Wootton, Payne, Mauragis; Yan, Ugarkovic, Lewis, Kraev; Ball, Zawada
We say: Perth Glory 1-2 Wellington Phoenix
Wellington Phoenix head into Friday's contest in higher spirits than Perth Glory after their victory last time out, and the visitors will be regarded as slight favourites here.
The hosts will be desperate to claim maximum points as they seek to climb off the bottom of the table, but we believe that the Yellow Army will outscore their opponents to prevail at Macedonia Park.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Oliver Thomas
