TeleChoice Premier League Round 21 Preview

At the top of the League ladder Sutherland Sharks? strangle hold of top-spot has all but slipped as Wollongong FC has drawn level in the race for the Premiership title.
With the momentum clearly in favour of the Wolves at present, a mouth-watering final fortnight of action is just around the corner ? not forgetting the second-most impressive performers over the past month Sydney Olympic only just three points behind.
Sutherland Sharks is the only one of the Top-Three sides involved in Saturday night action as Brian Brown?s men host West Sydney Berries at Seymour Shaw.
Following the disappointment of bowing out of the Tiger Turf Cup at the semi-final stage last weekend ? along with two consecutive TeleChoice Premier League losses ? the Sharks have hit rock-bottom in what has been a magical season for the Shire club.
Despite the negative recent four-weeks, Brown believes his side has what it takes to grind out the required results over the last two Rounds of the season.
They could possibly be without influential defender Pedj Bojic who was given his marching orders in their Tiger Turf Cup Semi-Final loss to Sydney Olympic last Saturday.
West Sydney Berries? season has picked-up following a form slump in the latter half of the campaign. Recent victories against Marconi Stallions and Bankstown City have lifted the confidence of the debutant Premier League outfit, benefiting greatly the club?s positioning in the Club Championship race.
At Sydney United Sports Centre Ivan Petkovic?s Reds are in desperate need of three-points to keep their hold on a Top-Five spot.
Sydney United were heavily defeated last weekend in the Round 17 catch-up match against Wollongong FC despite creating chances to take something more from the match.
Against Manly United FC, another side slowly falling by the wayside after a tremendous first half of the season, the Reds will need goals from ?go to? striker Luka Glavas. Petar Markovic should return to bolster the Reds? attacking options down the right-flank, an absence that was felt by Petkovic?s side against the Wolves, meanwhile Manly United FC boss Phil Moss will be hoping for goals from his main target man, Robert Cattanach.
Also on Saturday evening, Macarthur Rams and Penrith-Nepean United fight it out in a battle to avoid the wooden-spoon.
In an encounter that has even more than ?bottom spot? on the Ladder at stake, both sides require points to help their respective clubs avoid relegation in the Club Championship race.
Both coaches Paul Carter and Abbas Saad have performed admirably with young squads, though it will count for very little for either side if full points are not taken.
On Sunday afternoon an ?NSL Classic? takes place at Lambert Park with A.P.I.A.-Leichhardt Tigers playing host to Sydney Olympic.
The Blues are mathematically guaranteed a spot in the Top-Five regardless of the result, though will certainly be pleading their case for the Premiership title if three-points are taken from Leichhardt.
A.P.I.A.-Leichhardt Tigers? situation is a little more precarious as John Romeo?s players cannot afford anything less than a three-pointer on Sunday.
Adelaide United bound Robert Younis? exceptional run of goals will need to continue for the Tigers if they are to dent Sydney Olympic?s sheer force in defence.
Led by Mirko Jurilj, with the attacking capabilities of Matthew Mayora and Paul Wither, Sydney Olympic pose the Tigers a huge obstacle to keep their season alive.
Wollongong FC will be expected to set-up a mammoth final Round clash against Sutherland Sharks by picking up the points against Marconi Stallions this weekend.
The Wolves have been in tremendous form over the past month, testament to their placing in the Top-Five.
The Stallions on the other-hand have failed to live-up to expectations in 2008 and are still recovering from the resignation of coach David Barrett.
Despite a first-up 3-0 win against Sutherland for ?stand-in? coach Luke Casserly, the Stallions will have their work cut out against Wollongong FC.
In the final match of the Round, Blacktown City Demons and Bankstown City meet at Gabbie Stadium in a re-match of last season?s Grand-Final.
What a different story it is this time around for two of the NSW Premier League?s most successful club sides!
Blacktown City faces the possibility of collecting the ?wooden spoon? title meanwhile Bankstown City was ruled out of a Top-Five finish five Rounds before the end of the regular season ? arguably a disastrous League campaign for both sides.
With the Tiger Turf Cup Final in August the only motivation for Bankstown City, the Demons will need to have all guns blazing in-order to mount a serious challenge to get off the foot of the table.
-By Joseph Carlucci