Another huge clash faces the Western Sydney Wanderers NPL side, as they gear up for their first Sydney Derby in three years.
Despite the match being an away trip for the Wanderers, it is still taking place in the heart of Western Sydney at Valentine Sports Park in Glenwood.
The clash comes at an important time for both teams as they are coming off losses in the previous round.
The Wanderers dominated much of the play in their clash against Bulls FC Academy, but a man of the match performance from Bulls keeper Alexander Robinson and a free-kick from Rhys Youlley saw the Bulls snatch all three points at Wanderers Football Park with a 1-0 victory.
The Sky Blues meanwhile had their first defeat in six games inflicted upon them in a similarly tight clash away to NWS Spirit, where a first half goal condemned them to a 1-0 loss.
Matches between the two sides have been few and far between as they have often found themselves in different divisions.
Their last meeting came in 2020 when the Wanderers side was temporarily promoted to the COVID affected NPL NSW competition; on that day at Rockdale Ilinden Sports Centre, the Wanderers fell to a 3-2 defeat despite threatening to steal a point with a late fightback.
They will hope to have some key personnel returning to the side, with Alex and Liam Bonetig missing from the heart of defence last match due to injury. They will also be relying on the likes of George Antonis and Frans Deli to win the midfield battle in what is sure to be a heated contest.
It has been a difficult run for the Wanderers, with two close losses in their last two matches in particular being difficult to take, but form tends to go out the window in derby matches, and a win against their biggest rivals could be the perfect tonic to turn their season around.
NPL NSW
Sydney Derby
Friday 21 April 2023, 7:45pm
