Playoff candidates Macarthur welcome Newcastle Jets to the Campbelltown Stadium in the early hours of Sunday morning.
Beginning the latest round of A-League matches separated by only two points, Dwight Yorke's side go into the game unbeaten in four of the last five head-to-heads. Meanwhile, The Jets have already accumulated two more defeats (six) than victories (four) this season.
Match preview
Unlikely to be challenging Melbourne City throughout the regular season for the Premier's Plate, Macarthur currently sit in the last quarter-final playoff position following a modest total of 14 points from their opening 10 matches of the season.
In an attempt to capture only a second-ever piece of silverware - after victory over Sydney United 58 in the 2022 Australia Cup - since their inauguration as Macarthur South West United in March 2017 The Bulls have had their struggles at the Campbelltown Stadium.
Macarthur have been chasing the footballing version of a red flag on their travels, accumulating eight points, compared to the two fewer they have taken at home.
On the eve of last year's Christmas festivities, The Bulls registered a morale-boosting 3-0 victory over 10-man Sydney FC, down partly to Bachana Arabuli's brace. However, off the back of an eight-day refuel, Yorke's side were comprehensively beaten by Western Sydney Wanderers at the CommBank Stadium.
A return to winning ways could see Macarthur move to within one point of the playoff semi-final places if other results were also to go their way.
Despite the same number of victories (4) as their hosts on Sunday morning, Newcastle Jets have experienced an increasingly-frustrating run of inconsistency throughout the A-League 2022-23 campaign.
Following a victory over Adelaide United on December 27, courtesy of Jaushua Sotirio's 25th-minute strike, Arthur Papas's side returned to the familiar settings of the Newcastle International Sports Centre on New Year's Day against Sydney.
However, things did not go to plan as Adam Le Fondre and Robert Mak found the back of the net within four first-half minutes to secure the victory for the visitors.
Despite being victorious in only one of their last five encounters, albeit that success coming in last season's reserve fixture at the Campbelltown Stadium (3-0), Newcastle Jets will make the short journey across New South Wales confident of registering consecutive victories over Macarthur.
Team News
Macarthur manager Dwight Yorke could make alterations to his starting XI on the back of conceding more goals than they have scored this season.
In search of a replica of what the prolific striker achieved in his playing days at Aston Villa and Manchester United et al. attacking options Daniel Arzani and Jed Drew could be restored to The Jets' 11.
After equalling the Newcastle Jets' all-time Australian A-League appearance record last week, Jason Hoffman could be in line to break Ben Kantarovski's 196-game accolade if the veteran was to enter the Campbelltown Stadium pitch on Sunday.
In the wake of taking the place of former Arsenal player Carl Jenkinson against Sydney, that honour could grace the 33-year-old defender as soon as referee Adam Kersey blows his whistle to begin the contest.
At the other end of the field, Beka Mikeltadze will once again lead the line for The Jets, with support provided by Jaushua Sotirio, Kosta Grozos and Reno Piscopo.
Macarthur possible starting lineup:
Kurto; Vujica, Aspropotamitis, Uskok, Millar; De Silva, Hollman, Toure, Davila, Arzani; Arabuli
Newcastle Jets possible starting lineup:
Duncan; Ingham, Natta, Elsey, Hoffman; Thurgate, Dartsmelia, Piscopo, Grozos, Sotirio; Mikeltadze
We say: Macarthur 1-1 Newcastle Jets
With Macarthur and Newcastle Jets battling it out for a place in the A-League Finals, we can see both sides ultimately cancelling each other in a tightly-contested affair at the Campbelltown Stadium.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
