The Wanderers look to make it four games without a loss when they travel to face defending champions Central Coast on Saturday afternoon.
They are still well in the hunt for Finals football after their come from behind victory over Macarthur last weekend.
In an exciting game where both teams created a mountain of chances, it was a stunning strike from fullback Gab Cleur – his first in the A-League – that helped get the Wanderers three points after they fell behind due to an own goal.
It was a hugely important victory for Western Sydney, who are now just three points off third spot with 10 games left to go in the season.
The game was also notable as it saw six-time Socceroo Alex Gersbach make his long awaited debut for the club after joining as a January signing, with the left back making an impressive cameo off the bench.
The strength in depth now at Alen Stajcic’s disposal as players return from injury and the addition of new signings will be crucial for the Wanderers, who have struggled with player availability issues all season.
They still have centre back Joshua Laws to come into the side after he was a late signing in the transfer window, with the defender previously being at Swiss side Grasshoppers.
The Wanderers have had almost a full week to prepare, which is in stark contrast to what their opponents have endured, as they come into the game off the back of an Asian Champions League trip to Japan, where they fell to a 2-0 defeat to Kawasaki Frontale.
It was only five games ago the two sides met, with the Mariners holding off a late fightback on that night, but they have failed to win a game since then, losing twice and drawing four times in all competitions to slip down the A-League ladder and suffer a tough elimination from the Champions League.
The Mariners have remarkably drawn nine games in the league this season, by far the most of any side.
Of massive frustration will be two recent draws to Perth and Newcastle, who have struggled this season.
It was never going to be easy for the Mariners to back up again after losing so many top players in the off-season, and whilst they are still in the race for a top six place, they have lost ground in recent weeks and are four points off the Wanderers ahead of Saturday’s match.
The Wanderers will be looking to keep their good form going, which has seen them record two wins and a draw in their last three matches.
Nicolas Milanovic, after a dry spell, returned to the goalscoring charts last week with a
well-timed finish, whilst Josh Brillante has continued his positive run of form in the middle of the park in the continued absence of Dylan Scicluna due to a long term injury.
Defence will be key in this one as the Wanderers will be desperate to keep just a third clean sheet of the season; Lawrence Thomas has been in great form recently, whilst Anthony Pantazopoulos and Alex Bonetig have also shown improvement in their centre back partnership.
A win for the Wanderers could theoretically take them to third – something that would be unlikely with other results – but a victory would probably see them jump into the Finals places as the season edges closer to conclusion.
