Mustafa Amini has come in for the injured Patricio Perez as Daniel McBreen was sent to Central Coast’s Mariners bench for the Hyundai A-League Grand Final, while there are no surprises in Brisbane Roar’s side.
As expected, 17-year-old Mustafa Amini has been named to start for the visitors in place of injured star Patricio Perez, while McBreen was the unlucky forward to make way for the side’s leading scorer, Matt Simon, who started on the bench in their preliminary final win over the Gold Coast.
Ange Postecoglou held true to his word, naming livewire forward Henrique on his bench, with Costa Rican marksman Jean Carlos Solorzano retaining his spot in the centre of the Brisbane attacking line.
Brisbane have stuck with the same bench used in their 2-2 major semi-final draw with the Mariners a fortnight ago.
Foundation player Massimo Murdocca is likely to enjoy an extended second-half run, likely replacing Mitch Nichols, while Henrique will be utilised in place of Solorzano, with the likely reshuffle taking Kosta Barbarouses to the central position.
Rocky Visconte provides another attacking option on the bench for the Premiers, but barring injury, will be unlikely to figure too prominently.
The Mariners hold plenty of strike-power on their bench as well, with McBreen, John Hutchinson and young-gun Bernie Ibini-Isei all providing goal-scoring options.
Amini’s performance as attacking midfielder in front of the sell-out Suncorp Stadium crowd will be of key importance to the visitors.
Matt McKay and Thomas Broich will take on the brunt of the creative responsibilities for Brisbane, while goal-sharks Barbarouses and Solorzano remain the biggest threats to the Mariners’ defence.
