Brisbane Roar make the trip across the ditch to face Wellington Phoenix in Isuzu UTE A-League Round 18 action at Sky Stadium on Thursday afternoon.
Roar come into Thursday’s Waitangi Day clash off of the back of a narrow 1-0 defeat at the hands of Western Sydney Wanderers at Suncorp Stadium last weekend.
The Phoenix currently sit in tenth position on the A-League ladder and drew 0-0 with Central Coast Mariners in their most recent outing.
Thursday’s Isuzu UTE A-League Round 18 match at Sky Stadium which will be the 50th A-League meeting between the sides gets underway at 2pm AEST and will be broadcast live on Paramount+.
WHAT WAS SAID
TEAM NEWS
New Roar recruits Nathan Amanatidis and Austin Ludwik have both travelled to Wellington and are in the mix to make their debuts for the club.
19-year-old, Young Socceroos forward Amanatidis, who can operate as a winger or up-front made 14 Isuzu UTE A-League appearances for the Sky Blues and scored one goal in this season’s AFC Champions League.
Reigning two-time NPL Queensland Player of the Year, Ludwik is a 27-year-old central defender who joins Roar on a deal through to the end of the 2024/25 Isuzu UTE A-League campaign from Gold Coast Knights where he captained the side to two NPL Premierships & Grand Final victories.
Roar will be without Lucas Herrington who is in China with the Young Socceroos ahead of the U20 AFC Asian Cup which kicks off with a clash against Kyrgz Republic on February 12.
Pearson Kasawaya, who made his A-League debut away against Melbourne City in January has been added to the travelling squad.
Brisbane Roar also confirmed this week that both Alex Parsons and Neicer Acosta have departed the club by mutual consent.
The Phoenix welcome back Tim Payne, who is set to return from injury on Thursday while Marco Rojas who made the switch from Brisbane to Wellington in the off season will miss this one with an ankle injury.
Brisbane Roar squad: 1. Macklin FREKE (GK), 3. Corey BROWN, 6. Austin LUDWIK, 7. Rafael STRUICK, 8. Walid SHOUR, 10. Florin BERENGUER, 13. Henry HORE, 14. Pearson KASAWAYA, 15. Hosine BIILITY, 17. Nathan AMANATIDIS, 18. Jacob BRAZETE, 19. Jack HINGERT, 21. Antonee BURKE-GILROY, 23. Keegan JELACIC, 24. Sam KLEIN, 26. Jay O’SHEA (C), 27. Ben HALLORAN, 29. Matt ACTON (GK), 35. Louis ZABALA, 43. Adam ZIMARINO (Two to be omitted)
Ins: 6. Austin LUDWIK (new signing), 14. Pearson KASAWAYA, 17. Nathan AMANATIDIS (new signing), 19. Jack HINGERT
Outs: 2. Scott NEVILLE (retired), 12. Lucas HERRINGTON (international duty)
Unavailable: 4. Ben WARLAND (injured), 12. Lucas HERRINGTON (international duty)
Wellington Phoenix squad: 1. Josh OLUWAYEMI (gk), 3. Corban PIPER, 4. Scott WOOTTON, 5. Fin ROA CONCHIE, 6. Tim PAYNE, 7. Kosta BARBAROUSES, 8. Paulo RETRE, 9. Hideki ISHIGE, 15. Isaac HUGHES, 18. Lukas KELLY-HEALD, 19. Sam SUTTON, 23. Luke SUPYK, 25. Kazuki NAGASAWA, 27. Matt SHERIDAN, 29. Luke BROOKE-SMITH, 30. Alby KELLY-HEALD (gk), 36. Xuan LOKE, 39. Jayden SMITH, 41. Nathan WALKER, 46. Lachlan CANDY (two to be omitted)
Ins: 6. Tim PAYNE (returning from injury).
Outs: 44. Daniel MAKOWEM (omitted).
Unavailable: 11. Stefan COLAKOVSKI (injured), 14. Alex RUFER (c) (illness), 17. Gabriel SLOANE-RODRIGUES (injured), 21. Marco ROJAS (injured).
LAST TIME WE MET
An early goal from Bozhidar Kraev, who coincidentally also scored an early winner against the Roar for the Wanderers last weekend was all that separated the sides as Phoenix prevailed 1-0 at Sky Stadium in March last year.
Phoenix are the only team that Roar are yet to face in this seasons A-League.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
Played: 49
Brisbane Roar wins: 21
Wellington Phoenix wins: 13
Draws: 15
MATCH DETAILS
Isuzu UTE A-League Men 2024/25 – Round 18: Wellington Phoenix v Brisbane Roar
Sky Stadium, Wellington
Thursday, 6 February (2:00pm KO AEST)