Both Brisbane Roar and Melbourne City will have to defy recent history to progress in the Hyundai A-League finals however, they both have impressive home records to fall back on this weekend.
Roar will face Melbourne Victory for the second straight week when they host the reigning champions on Friday night.
Two days later, City will welcome Perth Glory to AAMI Park just two weeks after losing to Kenny Lowe’s team in Western Australia.
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Roar and City have poor records against their finals opponents over the past couple of years but will hope home ground advantage can inspire them to the semi-finals.
Saturday night’s scoreless draw between Victory and Roar was the fifth time in six meetings that the Big V had avoided defeat against Brisbane.
In fact, Victory have won four of their last six A-League matches with the Queenslanders.
But Brisbane coach John Aloisi will no doubt remind his team of the last time they hosted Victory, with Roar having triumphed 5-0 at Suncorp Stadium just last month.
Roar’s away form cost them the premiership this season, culminating in their 0-0 draw at AAMI Park on Saturday.
But Aloisi’s men have been far superior in Brisbane, winning 11 of 14 home games this term and losing just once.
Like Victory, Glory will travel this week without too much fear of their opponents, as Perth have triumphed in three of their past five meetings with City in all competitions.
City have won just once in the past seven games against Glory.
But in a boost for John van ‘t Schip’s side, City haven’t lost to Perth at AAMI Park in six matches.
While City lost at home on Friday night – going down to eventual Premiers Plate winners Adelaide United 2-0 – they have made their home ground something of a fortress in 2015-16.
In 14 home games this season, City have lost just three times and triumphed on nine occasions, including a 5-1 thumping of Glory in November.
The highest-ranked winner from this week’s finals will visit Western Sydney Wanderers on April 24, while the lowest-ranked winner will head to Adelaide United on April 22.
