TeleChoice Premier League Round 22 Preview

With each match kicking off at 3:00 PM on Sunday ? to not give any advantage to one side over another ? the curtain will be drawn on an enthralling regular season.
Eyes will be focused on each of the six-fixtures on Sunday for many different reasons. The biggest clash ? in-terms of Premiership title ? takes place at Seymour Shaw as League Leader from Round 1 Sutherland Sharks host Wollongong FC. Both sides enter the match with 43 points apiece, the Sharks holding a +9 advantage on goal difference over the Wolves.
The Sharks have been in great form all season, though it is their run home that has caused concern amongst supporters. Brian Brown?s men have lost three of their last four matches ? Blacktown City Demons and Marconi Stallions in the League, before bowing out of the Tiger Turf Cup at the semi-final stage on penalties against Sydney Olympic.
The Sharks recorded a morale boosting 6-0 win against West Sydney Berries to get the winning feeling back last weekend, and most importantly, their ?man mountain? in attack Brad Boardman made a huge return to the scorer?s list with an impressive hat-trick.
Wollongong FC in-fact has won one more match than Sutherland this season, testament to the exceptional work of John Turner at the club.
The Wolves were made to suffer against Marconi Stallions last weekend, arguably an important test in-sight of a season defining match such as the clash with Sutherland. As has been often the case this season, Ilija Prenzoski will carry much of the weight in attack for the Wolves, though some concerns do surround captain Ben Blake who was forced from the field against Marconi last weekend.
At Belmore Sports Ground, Sydney Olympic will be ?champing at the bit? to secure second-spot as a desperate Sydney United visits the Blues.
Sydney Olympic will have a Wednesday evening clash against A.P.I.A.-Leichhardt Tigers to complete, following the abandonment of the match on Sunday due to bad weather, though do remain in the hunt for second-spot should maximum points be taken from Lambert Park.
Sydney United on the other-hand has a much tougher task to secure a Top-Five berth with Ivan Petkovic?s side now relying on other results to go their way.
A win for A.P.I.A.-Leichhardt against Sydney Olympic in midweek will see the Tigers leap-frog the Reds going into the last Round, a situation that would have been unthinkable one-month ago.
The Reds will be without the services of experienced campaigners Josip Moric, Todd Brodie and Damon Collina through suspension, meanwhile Petar Markovic?s spinal injury has all but ended his campaign.
The battle between two great NSL club-sides of yesteryear will certainly deliver fireworks on Sunday.
A.P.I.A.-Leichhardt Tigers? task at hand will be made clearer following the midweek catch-up match against Sydney Olympic, though a Sunday visit to Penrith-Nepean United should not cause John Romeo?s men too many difficulties.
Penrith-Nepean has suffered in the latter part of the season due largely to the shorter playing roster in comparison to other sides, though Abbas Saad and his men have certainly fought ?tooth and nail? throughout the season. With a one-point advantage over bottom-placed Blacktown City Demons, Penrith-Nepean need points to avoid the wooden-spoon.
The Tigers? strong finish to the regular season stand them in good stead for the points at the CUA Stadium, though anything less than a win for the Leichhardt side would almost certainly spell the end of their campaign.
At Cromer Park Manly United FC has an important encounter with Macarthur Rams in their bid to find form heading into the finals-series. Manly consolidated their spot in the Top-Five last weekend with a 1-0 victory against an 8-man Sydney United; following a series of defeats.
Manly?s successes to-date have revolved around the form of Robbie Cattanach and Craig Midgley. Both players have shown important signs of returning to their best form at the right time of the season.
Macarthur Rams collected their fourth win of the season against Penrith-Nepean last weekend and would need at least one-point against Manly to stand a chance of avoiding the wooden-spoon.
For Manly United, it is the perfect match to lift team-morale with a finals campaign around the corner.
Two of the pre-season favourites Marconi Stallions and Bankstown City will be playing for pride when they meet at Marconi Stadium. Both sides have been disappointing in a season that promised so much in the build-up.
The Stallions have very little to play for in this campaign as ?stand-in? coach Luke Casserly takes control of the team for the final time this season.
Promising signs for the Stallions have been the great form of captain courageous Nahuel Arrarte, along with the return from injury of Jay Lucas ? the striker scoring twice in his first two matches back following a nightmare two-and-a-half years with injury.
Although Bankstown City has little to play for in-terms of the league, Peter Tsekenis? men have a Tiger Turf Cup Final on August 10. With Sydney Olympic awaiting the Lions in the Cup Final, a good showing is a must against the Stallions. Bankstown has been arguably one of the most spectacular sides in-terms of ball movement and one-touch football, yet their results have told a totally different story.
In the final match of the Round, defending TeleChoice Premier League Champions Blacktown City Demons face season debutants West Sydney Berries.
In a must win match for the Demons, if there is to be a remarkable last day leap off the bottom of the table, Ken Schembri?s men will look to take morale following the late equaliser against Bankstown City in Round 21. Paul Karbon scored on that day, salvaging a point against their fierce rivals.
West Sydney Berries? campaign has been filled with ?ups and downs? though the side?s debut season in the Premier League has been very positive.
A win at home against the Demons will ensure a top-eight finish with, potentially, seventh-spot still up for grabs.
-By Joseph Carlucci