In a weekend of big clashes, it’s not exactly a blockbuster start to the weekend’s A-League action with 11th placed Newcastle hosting last placed Brisbane.
Just like last time they picked up points, the Roar have had a long layoff between games so any hope of some momentum carrying over is gone.
Newcastle on the other hand will have plenty of that in their bag, riding a four match unbeaten run that has featured back to back wins over the high-flying Victory and Adelaide in the last two weeks.
The Jets are emerging as the team most likely to make a late surge towards the finals and if they are to do that, they should be able to comfortably handle this Brisbane side.
BEST: Newcastle to Win $2.00 | VALUE: Newcastle to Win 1-0, 2-0 or 3-0 $4.60
The third and final Kiwi Clasico of the season sees two teams heading in opposite directions face off.
Auckland is five points clear on top of the table and has taken out both derbies so far this season, which is why they are justifiably short priced favourites.
Wellington on the other hand still has a shot at making the finals, but they cannot afford to drop too many more points over the coming months.
But with just the one win to their name from seven matches in 2025, the Nix just don’t seem to have it in them to make that sort of push.
Given the rivalry that has already built up between the two, they should be able to make life tough for Auckland but the home side’s quality in the end should see them over the line.
BEST: Auckland to Win and Under 3.5 Goals $2.25 | VALUE: Draw/Auckland HT/FT Double $4.20
Central Coast’s short turnaround from their midweek Champions League match against Kawasaki should not be much of a factor here, with the reigning champs sending a youthful side over for that one.
That means they will be at or near full strength as they try to end a four match draw streak in the A-League and close the gap on the top six.
Just last month they knocked off the Wanderers at Parramatta and have taken the last three meetings between the clubs.
While Western Sydney are unbeaten in their last three, there are still some troubling issues that Alen Stajcic has to work out.
This could be a perfect spot for the Mariners to take advantage of a vulnerable opponent and they are a better chance than their $2.90 quote.
BEST: Central Coast to Win $2.90 | VALUE: Central Coast to Win and Under 3.5 Goals $4.20
It’s been feast or famine for the Victory over their last six matches, with three wins and three defeats putting them all but out of the premiership race.
Now they have to find a way to take maximum points from this fixture to keep the likes of Melbourne City, Western United and others at bay.
Their last four matches have all been wins to nil for the victor, which makes the under the appealing play for this fixture.
While there have been goals in the last four derbies, City’s struggles in front of goal with just two total from their last five outings suggests that one might be enough to win this fixture.
BEST: Under 2.5 Goals $2.30 | VALUE: Under 1.5 Goals $4.50
Out of all the fixtures Sydney FC could have drawn this weekend, Perth away is an absolute gift on the back of their ACL 2 clash in Bangkok on Wednesday night (still to be played at the time of publish).
It significantly reduces the travel back to Australia and they can go direct to HBF Park and ensure at least some decent preparation for this match.
Scoring has not been an issue for them of late with seven goals in their last two A-League outings and the Glory’s defence is still porous.
They have allowed over two goals per match and kept just three clean sheets from 18 fixtures, not a good sign when they are facing an in-form forward line.
On the plus side, they have almost doubled their season goal tally in the last month, scoring five in their last six domestic fixtures to take their season tally to 12.
They might find a way through Sydney’s fatigued backline but they will have far too much work at the other end of the pitch to take anything from this match.
BEST: Sydney Win and Both Teams to Score $2.30 | VALUE: Sydney Win and Over 5.5 Goals $5.25
A battle of teams desperate for a bounce back will round out the weekend’s action and both clubs have plenty to play for.
Western United have two points from their last three matches and have well and truly fallen out of the premiership race.
Even worse thanks to the congested nature of the table, they could finish anywhere from second to tenth when all is said and done.
Meanwhile, Adelaide has a five point edge on their opponents for the week, but with just four points from their last four matches, they have to start winning to have any hope of toppling Auckland FC.
A draw doesn’t really help either team, but there also is not a lot between these clubs and it looks like the way to go in this fixture.
BEST: Draw $3.90 | VALUE: Draw and Over 3.5 Goals $7.00