Ono ruled out for Wanderers

Shinji Ono ... Wanderers want Japanese star for another 12 months. Source:AAP

Marquee star Shinji Ono and at least three other Western Sydney players will miss Friday's final-round A-League clash at Newcastle where the Wanderers hope to secure the Premiers' Plate.

• 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! 

A point from the game against a Newcastle team desperate for a win to boost their own playoff hopes would be sufficient for the first-season franchise to seal top spot ahead of Central Coast, who host Melbourne Heart on Saturday.

Japanese playmaker Ono will miss the clash at Hunter Stadium with a groin injury.

Defenders Adam D'Apuzzo (foot) and Jerome Polenz (quad) have also been ruled out through injury while midfielder Iacopo La Rocca begins a four-match suspension and won't play again this year.

Central defender Michael Beauchamp (quad) and midfielder Aaron Mooy (knee) are also battling to recover in time for the match.

"If they're not fully fit, they won't play,'' Wanderers coach Tony Popovic said on Thursday.

Popovic will at least regain the services of Dutch winger Youssouf Hersi after serving a suspension.

He said he was hoping Ono would be available for the Wanderers' semi-final, which won't be played for two weeks as they earned a week off for finishing in the top two.

"The scans (on Ono) didn't reveal too much damage which was encouraging for us,'' Popovic said.

"He's in a positive frame of mind and we're still optimistic that he'll be available for that game.

"He's our marquee player and he's our creative spark, but when he hasn't been available, the players that have come in have done a very good job.''

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