Perth Glory look set to field a full-strength starting eleven in today’s Elimination Final against Melbourne City after stars Diego Castro and Chris Harold trained strongly yesterday.
The pair have been nursing hamstring injuries for the past fortnight and missed last weekend’s heavy loss to Sydney FC however are desperate to play with everything on the line at AAMI Park.
Castro and Harold both travelled to Melbourne as part of Kenny Lowe’s extended squad after coming through yesterday’s final training session unscathed.
Glory’s gun duo have been crucial to the WA club’s surge towards the finals as they claimed 10 of their last 12 matches, including a 3-2 home win against City in the penultimate round of the season.
Perth coach Kenny Lowe revealed he was prepared to risk his stars but was not sure if they would be able to see out the contest.
“You’ve got to look at that at the time and assess the game as it moves forward and how fatigued they are and what state they’re in,’’ Lowe told Perth’s Sunday Times on Saturday.
“But they are mentally up for it and they want to do it. So fingers crossed, it doesn’t go to the 120.
“I don’t think it will be (an issue) of fitness, it will be one of the injury holding up.’’
The winner of today’s clash will play Premiers Adelaide United for a spot in the Grand Final at Coopers Stadium on Friday night.
Hyundai A-League 2016 Elimination Final 2
Sunday, 17 April 2016
Melbourne City FC (4) v Perth Glory (5)
AAMI Park, Melbourne
Kick-Off: 5:00pm (Local) (5:00pm AEST)
Click here to purchase tickets
