Preview - New Zealand Knights vs Sydney FC

Last year’s Wooden Spooner’s take on the current champions Sydney FC in a round three clash in the A-league pre-season cup this Saturday.

New Knights boss Paul Nevin will undoubtedly be pleased with his team’s performances of late, gaining draws off last year’s semi-finalists the Newcastle Jets, and the Queensland Roar last week in Maroochydore.

With new signing Dani Rodrigues scoring on debut, and the all African midfield pairing of Jonas Salley and Malik Buari clicking at the right time, Nevin’s men will be looking to challenge a Sydney side still feeling their way into pre-season.

For the Knights, new signing Jonti Richter has been particularly impressive early on, after a disappointing season with the Queensland Roar last term. The only injury worries for the Knights leading into the game, are the former Scottish international and Everton midfielder Scot Gemmill, and a familiar face for many Knights fans from last season, Neil Emblen.

Sydney FC has enjoyed a solid start to its pre-season campaign with two wins on the trot against the Queensland Roar on the Gold Coast, and last weekend against the Newcastle Jets in Canberra. Manager Terry Butcher was pleased with the win, but will be hoping his charges’ finishing is better, after both Alex Brosque and Sasho Petrovski both squandered chances to kill off the game in Canberra.

Sydney will be without former Knights starlet Jeremy Brockie for the Trans-Tasman trip, whilst Ruben Zadkovich (knee) and Jacob Timpano (hernia) will not play. Dwight Yorke, fresh from a three week break after his world cup exploits will not play, with manager Terry Butcher confirming that the marquee signing is not yet match fit.

The Australian champions are boosted by the return of centre-back Mark Rudan, who suffered a medial ligament strain in the leadup to the Jets game last week. Rudan will be aiming to return to Butcher’s starting lineup at the expense of either Iain Fyfe or impressive youngster Nikolai Topor-Stanley, who will aim to make the starting lineup in order to push further for a long-term contract, after impressing against the Jets last weekend deputising for Rudan.

Sydney has never lost to the Knights, with their previous encounters in New Zealand resulting in a win and a draw to the Sydney side, whilst the Knights fortunes seem to be on the rise. Should they beat the champions, it will be a massive boost leading into the second A-league season, which kicks off next month. The match kicks off from North Harbour Stadium at 2:00pm (NZ) on Saturday.

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