Mel's preview: NEW v WSW

Source:FOX SPORTS

Fox Sports football commentator Mel McLaughlin previews the blockbuster clash between Newcastle Jets and Western Sydney Wanderers at Hunter Stadium on Friday night.

The Jets sat back last weekend and watched with dismay as Brisbane Roar and Perth Glory won their games, but remarkably their finals fate, like last year, comes down to the final round.

• 1. WESTERN SYDNEY WANDERERS (54 points, Goal Diff +17)
  v Newcastle (A)
  Need a win or a draw in Newcastle to secure the premier's plate in their debut season.
   
• 2. CENTRAL COAST MARINERS (51, +25)
  v Melbourne Heart (H)
  If the Wanderers lose, the Mariners will pinch the premier's plate on goal difference with a win against the Heart.
   
• 3. MELBOURNE VICTORY (41, +2)
  v Wellington Phoenix (A)
  Will finish third or fourth and have nothing to really play for in New Zealand ahead of their home elimination final.
   
• 4. ADELAIDE UNITED (40, +1)
  v Perth Glory (A)
  To finish third or fourth and host a home knockout final, regardless of the result of their Perth trip.
   
• 5. BRISBANE ROAR (32, +2)
  v Sydney FC (H)
  Hold their own destiny. Beat Sydney, and their title defence continues into the finals; lose, and they need both Perth and Newcastle to lose. If they draw and only one of Newcastle or Perth win, they could still sneak in.
• 6. SYDNEY FC (32, -8)
  v Brisbane Roar (A)
  Like Brisbane, masters of their own fate: beat the Roar and they make the finals. Lose or draw, and they rely on others, like the Roar, above.
   
• 7. PERTH GLORY (31, -2)
  v Adelaide United (H)
  Beat Adelaide at home and they're in the finals. Draw, and they're probably in - if Sydney are beaten. Lose, and they're out.
   
• 8. NEWCASTLE JETS (31, -12)
  v Western Sydney (H)
  Must defeat Western Sydney and hope Sydney and Brisbane draw, and Perth lose, to steal a finals spot. If they draw, but Perth win and Sydney get thumped by four or more goals, they can also sneak in! 

It won’t get much harder than a visit from the ladder leaders Western Sydney for their first trip to Hunter Stadium, with up to 8000 fans in tow for this Good Friday fixture.

It is all on the line for Newcastle. They must win, and then sweat on the Perth result against Adelaide on Saturday night. Remarkably they've only been outside of the six for six weeks this e season, but since these two last met in round 20, they've won twice, lost three times and drawn twice.

After a false start in the Sydney derby the Wanderers have another chance to secure the Premiers’ Plate.

It seems though that the biggest thing that could work against them now are their list of injuries and suspension.

Iacopo La Rocca was devastated to receive a four-match ban for a brain snap right at the death at Parramatta Stadium last week. The elbow to Terry Antonis means his season is over.

Youssouf Hersi returns from his ban – a massive inclusion, but that’s tempered by the loss of Shinji Ono.

Michael Beauchamp, Aaron Mooy and Jerome Polenz have carried injuries and Polenz will definitely miss this one, but Mooy and Beauchamp will be given every opportunity to prove their fitness.

They were severely understrength against the Sky Blues and were under pressure, but Brett Emerton’s red card helped put the balance back in their favour – and a cracking free kick from Shannon Cole helped matters as well.

Former Jets Nikolai Topor-Stanley, Labinot Haliti, Tarek Elrich, Adam D’Apuzzo (should he be fit after playing 45 minutes last week), Ante Covic and Mark Bridge return to their old stomping ground as the opposition – and all of a sudden there’s a bit of pressure on the team to win and collect the Premiers’ Plate.

Emile Heskey returns to the side after battling a calf injury, and alongside the resurgent fellow Englishman Michael Bridges will look to do some damage against what could be a largely different-looking backline for the Wanderers.

The Jets are preparing for this sudden death encounter and have trained hard in the lead up. The two teams have one win each this season, both at Parramatta Stadium, and there’s no doubt the Jets are capable of what would be an upset.

I’m tipping Newcastle to give themselves a chance at the finals as the Wanderers’ depth will again be tested.

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