There still may be 10 rounds remaining in the Hyundai A-League 2018/19 regular season but we may have already reached a season-defining clash for the Newcastle Jets and Wellington Phoenix.
Given the seventh-placed Jets head into Round 18 as the only side outside the top six with a genuine chance of making the finals, this is a must-win clash for the sake of their campaign.
Ernie Merrick’s men are currently eight points behind the sixth-placed Phoenix, meaning the equation is simple.
SUBLIME TO RIDICULOUS: The Hyundai A-League’s quickest-ever goals off the bench
STATS REVIEW: Penalty king Redmayne closes in on Hyundai A-League record
HOW TO WATCH: All five Hyundai A-League games in Round 18
WATCH FOR FREE: How to watch the Hyundai A-League LIVE and FREE
Win in front of their home fans on Thursday night (kick off 7.50pm AEDT), and the Jets will close the gap to five points to increase the pressure on Wellington heading into the final third of the season.
But a loss would spell disaster for the Hunter club, widening the gap to 11 points and all but ending their faint finals hopes.
With all that being said the Jets should enter this clash full of confidence off the back of their 5-1 drubbing of Western Sydney Wanderers last Friday night.
In contrast, Phoenix came crashing down to earth with a 3-0 defeat against the Glory in Perth, although the absence of key figures Andrew Durante, Steven Taylor and Mandi didn’t help their cause.
Both Durante and Taylor are back in the fold for this one, which will certainly make Mark Rudan’s men a far tougher nut to crack for the home side.
With so much at stake, this should be an absolute cracker to kick off Round 18.
Key Opta stats
- Newcastle Jets have attempted 290 shots this season, more than any other team in the A-League – however their shooting conversion rate of 6.9% is the lowest of any team this season.
- Newcastle Jets have scored a league-low number of seven first-half goals this season.
- Dimitri Petratos (Newcastle Jets) has scored two goals in his last three A-League games against Wellington and has attempted the most shots of any player this season in the competition (71).
Ins and outs
Newcastle Jets squad: 1.Glen MOSS (gk), 3.Jason HOFFMAN, 4.Nigel BOOGAARD (c), 5.Ben KANTAROVSKI, 6.Steven UGARKOVIC, 7.Dimi PETRATOS, 8.Jair, 9.Roy O’DONOVAN, 10.Ronald VARGAS, 13.Ivan VUJICA, 14.Kaine SHEPPARD, 16.Nick COWBURN, 17.Daniel GEORGIEVSKI, 18.Johnny KOUTROUMBIS, 20.Lewis ITALIANO (gk), 22.Lachlan JACKSON, 23.Matthew RIDENTON, 44.Nikolai TOPOR-STANLEY **two to be omitted**
Ins: 16.Nick COWBURN (promoted), 22.Lachlan JACKSON (promoted)
Outs: Nil
Unavailable: 24.Joe CHAMPNESS (hamstring – 2 weeks)
Wellington Phoenix squad: 1.Filip KURTO (gk),5. Ryan LOWRY, 6.Dylan FOX, 7.Cillian SHERIDAN, 9. Nathan BURNS, 11.David WILLIAMS, 12. Antony GOLEC, 13.Liberato CACACE, 14.Alex Rufer, 15.Michal KOPZCYNSKI, 16.Louis FENTON, 18.Sarpreet SINGH, 19.Tom DOYLE, 20.Oliver SAIL (gk), 21.Roy KRISHNA, 22. Andrew DURANTE, 23.Max BURGESS, 27.Steven TAYLOR **two to be omitted**
Ins: 9. Nathan BURNS (promoted), 22. Andrew DURANTE (return from suspension), 27.Steven TAYLOR (promoted)
Outs: 3. Justin GULLEY (not selected)
Unavailable: Nil
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514571001/default_default/index.html?videoId=5997331039001
How to watch
Tune in to FOX SPORTS 505 to catch the opening game of Round 18 from 7.50pm (AEDT), or you can also stream the match on the MyFootball Live App or watch it by subscribing to Kayo Sports.
Tickets
It’s a massive Thursday night clash for both clubs at McDonald Jones Stadium and you can be there by CLICKING HERE to secure your ticket.