Sydney hit with Neill injury blow

Lucas Neill ... should return for Sydney if they make the finals. Source: THERON KIRKMAN / AAP

Star defender Lucas Neill has been ruled out of Sydney FC's crucial A-League clash with Brisbane on Thursday night.

Neill is battling a hamstring injury which forced him to miss the second half of last Saturday's 1-1 draw with Western Sydney Wanderers.

		P	W	D	L	GD	Pts
1	Western Sydney	26	17	3	6	17	54
2	Central Coast	26	15	6	5	25	51
3	Victory	26	12	5	9	2	41
4	Adelaide	26	12	4	10	1	40
5	Brisbane	26	9	5	12	2	32
6	Sydney	26	9	5	12	-8	32
7	Perth	26	9	4	13	-2	31
8	Newcastle	26	8	7	11	-12	31
9	Heart	26	8	3	15	-8	27
10	Wellington	26	7	6	13	-17	27

Sydney and Brisbane both need to win the match at Suncorp Stadium to guarantee a place in the finals which commence next week.

They are locked on 32 points each, ahead of Perth (31) and Newcastle (31) who play Adelaide United and Western Sydney Wanderers respectively later over the Easter period.

Brett Emerton will also miss the game after getting a red card against the Wanderers with his place in the midfield to be taken by skipper Terry McFlynn, who returns from a hamstring injury.

Sky Blues coach Frank Farina confirmed on Wednesday that Neill would not play and hasn't trained all week.

"Lucas is definitely out and obviously Brett (Emerton) as well and Terry McFlynn will be in the squad,'' Farina said.

The good news for Sky Blues fans is Neill is expected to be fit for the finals series should they make it.

"I think he'd be OK for next week,'' Farina said.

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