Marquee man Shinji Ono will miss the game against Melbourne Heart FC but the NRMA Insurance Western Sydney Wanderers are primed for a desperate battle.
Marquee man Shinji Ono will miss the game against Melbourne Heart FC but the NRMA Insurance Western Sydney Wanderers are primed for a desperate battle.
Coach Tony Popovic said Ono was recovering from hamstring tightness suffered in the first half against Wellington last week but the star midfielder would be rested this weekend.
“He is progressing very well from last week but we don-t want to risk him at this stage,” Popovic said.
The Wanderers have beaten Heart on their two previous meetings this season, 1-0 and 2-1, both at Parramatta Stadium.
The second win saw the Wanderers play the majority of the match without fullback Jerome Polenz who was sent off early for taking down a rampaging David Williams.
Popovic said Heart was a dangerous team with some very good attacking players and they were desperate to stay in contention for the finals.
Heart is three points out of the top six.
“They will be hurting from that loss last week,” he said.
“We will need to match their intensity and it is a big game for them to stay in the playoff hunt and it is a big game for us.
“We will bring that hunger and determination that we have and we are on a nine- game winning streak.
“The players know how to win and we just want to continue that.”
He said he expected a good crowd at AAMI Park with plenty of travelling Wanderers supporters.
