The relentless Sydney FC, fresh from their "dog-fight" Big Blue win, roll into Queensland with a confident Brisbane Roar awaiting them in this battle between first and third.
SQUADS
Brisbane Roar squad: 1.Michael THEO (gk), 3.Luke DEVERE, 4.Daniel BOWLES, 5.Corey BROWN, 7.Thomas KRISTENSEN, 8.Jacob PEPPER, 9.Jamie MACLAREN, 10.Brett HOLMAN, 11.Tommy OAR, 13.Jade NORTH, 15.ARANA, 17.Matt MCKAY (c), 19.Jack HINGERT, 20.Shannon BRADY, 21.Jamie YOUNG (gk), 22.Thomas BROICH, 23.Dimitri PETRATOS, 29.Joe CALETTI
**two to be omitted**
Ins: 5.Corey BROWN (returns from suspension), 20.Shannon BRADY (promoted), 29.Joe CALETTI (promoted)
Outs: 28.Brandon BORRELLO (suspended – 1 match)
Unavailable: 33.Joey KATEBIAN (concussion – 1 week)
Sydney FC squad: 1.Andrew REDMAYNE (gk), 4.Alex WILKINSON, 5.Jordy BUIJS, 6.Joshua BRILLANTE, 8.Milos DIMITRIJEVIC, 9.BOBÔ, 10.Milos NINKOVIC, 11.Bernie IBINI, 12.Aaron CALVER, 13.Brandon O’NEILL, 14.Alex BROSQUE (c), 17.David CARNEY, 18.Matt SIMON, 19.George BLACKWOOD, 20.Danny VUKOVIC (gk), 21.Filip HOLOSKO, 23.Rhyan GRANT
**one to be omitted**
Ins: 19.George BLACKWOOD (promoted), 23.Rhyan GRANT (return from suspension).
Outs: 7.Michael ZULLO (suspended – 1 match)
Unavailable: 22.Seb RYALL (hamstring – indefinite)
BLUFFER'S GUIDE
This is one of the Sky Blues' least favourite away trips in the A-League, with Sydney FC managing just three wins at Suncorp Stadium in 18 visits.
But in the 2016-17 season, Graham Arnold's Sydney have had a habit of breaking records and smashing hoodoos.
They remain on track to go through the campaign unbeaten and hold an imposing 11-point lead at the A-League's summit following their 2-1 Big Blue win over Melbourne Victory on Australia Day.
While Roar is in third place in the table, they are 16 points behind Arnold's men and were beaten 2-0 when the two sides met in Sydney in December.
Sydney will be without in-form left-back Michael Zullo through suspension, although Rhyan Grant returns from his one-game ban and is the favourite to slot into that vacant spot, while David Carney could reprise his role from his Socceroos days on the left side of defence.
Roar are chasing their third win in a week after beating Western Sydney Wanderers 2-1 in the A-League on Saturday and then crushing Global FC 6-0 on Tuesday in an AFC Champions League (ACL) qualifier.
While Brisbane have a clash with Carlos Tevez and Shanghai Shenhua in China to look forward to on Wednesday night, they can't afford to look past the Sky Blues or it might be a long night.
The loss of forward Brandon Borrello through suspension is a huge blow after he scored four goals against Global but it could mean Roar coach John Aloisi turns to some of his exciting youngsters, who shone on the continental stage this week.
ROUTE TO GOAL
After a lean few weeks, Roar's mojo in front of goal looks to be back, although the man who's been firing - Borrello - is out due to an accumulation of yellow cards.
It should open up the door for Brett Homan to start and he's been another big factor in Brisbane's resurgence over the last week.
The ex-Socceroos star missed two months with injury but scored the winner off the bench against the Wanderers last week before completing an hour against Global.
But Friday night's match is likely to be decided at the other end, with Sydney (38 goals from 17 games) boasting the best attack in the competition.
Filip Holosko scored his sixth goal of the season against Victory but the Slovakian marquee could be at risk of losing his starting spot to resurgent Bernie Ibini, who must be close to full fitness following his knee injury and scored an impressive winner in the Big Blue.
WHO'S BEEN IN THE SPOTLIGHT THIS WEEK
Brandon Borrello. The striker became the first Australian to score four goals in the ACL this week, with his hat-trick coming in the opening 30 minutes, just three days after he ended an 11-game A-League scoring drought versus Western Sydney.
FORM LINES
Brisbane Roar: LLLWW
Sydney FC: WWDWW
PREDICTION
Brisbane Roar 1-2 Sydney FC
