The second game on Friday for A-League Round 17 is between Perth Glory and Melbourne Victory. The opening kick-off is set to commence at 9.45pm with the game to be played at nib Stadium. The favourite for the match is home team Perth Glory. View our preview and teams for the game between Perth Glory and Melbourne Victory.

Round: Round 17, Friday, January 31 at 9.45pm AEDT (6.45pm local time).
Stadium: nib Stadium
Head to head: Played 26 – Wins: Glory 10, Victory 11, Draws: 5
Previous encounter: Victory 2 – 0 Glory, December 13, 2013

Perth Glory $2.20 vs Melbourne Victory $3.10 at Sportsbet Australia get a $250 FREE BET on this match

Perth Glory $2.25 vs Melbourne Victory $2.95 at Luxbet Australia get a $500 FREE BET on this match

Odds Comparison:

Perth Glory	2.20	2.20	2.25	2.20	2.20	2.25
Draw	3.50	3.60	3.35	3.60	3.50	3.40
Melbourne Victory	3.10	3.00	2.95	3.00	3.10	2.88

All odds are subject to change. Odds listed are correct at the time of the latest update.

Teams:

Perth Glory Squad:
1.Daniel VUKOVIC (GK), 3.Brandon O’NEILL, 4. Ryan EDWARDS, 6.Cameron EDWARDS, 7. Jacob BURNS, 8. Nebojsa MARINKOVIC, 9. Shane SMELTZ, 10. Jamie MACLAREN, 11. Adrian ZAHRA, 14.Steven McGARRY, 16.Sidnei SCIOLA MORAES, 17. Chris HAROLD, 18. Jack DUNCAN, 19. Josh RISDON, 20. Danny DE SILVA, 23.Michael THWAITE, 25. Riley WOODCOCK, 36. William GALLAS
**Two to be omitted **
Ins: 3.Brandon O’NEILL, 4. Ryan EDWARDS, 11. Adrian ZAHRA
Outs: 2.Jack CLISBY, 24.Matthew DAVIES, 15. Isaka CERNAK
Unavailable: Travis DODD (knee – indefinite), Scott JAMIESON (Achilles – indefinite)

Melbourne Victory Squad:

1.Nathan COE (gk), 2.Pablo CONTRERAS, 3.Adama TRAORE, 4.Nick ANSELL, 6.Leigh BROXHAM, 7.Gui FINKLER, 9.Kosta BARBAROUSES, 10.Archie THOMPSON, 11.Connor PAIN, 13.Andrew NABBOUT, 14.James TROISI, 16.Rashid MAHAZI, 17.James JEGGO, 20.Lawrence THOMAS (gk), 21.Tom ROGIC, 22.Jesse MAKAROUNAS, 24.Scott GALLOWAY, 25.Jason GERIA,
**Two to be omitted**
Ins: 2.Pablo CONTRERAS (returns from injury), 3.Adama TRAORE (returns from suspension) 17.James JEGGO (promoted), 22.Jesse MAKAROUNAS (promoted).
Outs: 23.Adrian LEIJER (suspension, 1 week), 31.Dylan MURNANE
Unavailable: 5.Mark MILLIGAN (knee, 2-4 weeks)

Preview:

Form:

Past five matches

Glory: LDWWL

Victory: LLWDL

The Game:

The obvious reaction to Melbourne Victory’s past fortnight is to assume it could not get any worse but, while it seems unfathomable that the Big V will suffer another 5-0 thrashing, a third straight loss is not unrealistic, considering their poor record at nib Stadium.

Victory have lost eight of 12 games in Perth and have only won once in their past four. Perth Glory have also been strong at home this season with just one loss in eight matches.

Melbourne’s head coach Kevin Muscat has been forced into changing his back four yet again with Adrian Leijer suspended for the third time this season.

Adama Traore will return from a one-match ban and Pablo Contreras is back from injury, while Dylan Murnane will drop out of Victory’s line-up.

Muscat has also indicated James Troisi and Kosta Barbarouses (foot) will not start with Tom Rogic and Gui Finkler set to take up the attacking midfield slots in the Big V’s much-discussed 4-2-4 formation.

In a positive for Muscat and his men, Perth do not usually clog the midfield like Wellington and Sydney did over the past fortnight, with Kenny Lowe preferring a fairly traditional 4-3-3.

But Glory have been quite adept at maintaining possession at home and with Shane Smeltz finding form will be ready to take advantage of any lax defending from Victory.

The big issue:

Glory – How will Lowe’s new men settle? Perth have brought in three new players over the past couple of weeks with Nebojsa Marinkovic, Royston Griffiths and Darvydas Sernas all signing with the Glory until the end of next season.

If they can make an immediate impact in purple shirts over the next month, they could ensure Perth make the A-League finals. Friday night’s clash against a struggling Melbourne team would be a great start.

Victory – Can Rogic save Victory? Signed on loan from Celtic with much fanfare, Rogic’s debut in the Big V shirt last week off the bench was very much overshadowed by Sydney FC’s performance.

While Victory have a myriad of problems on the pitch at the moment, the class of Rogic, his ability to keep the ball and create in the final third could make a significant difference. If not, Victory will be in serious trouble and the pressure will increase on their rookie coach.

The game breaker:

Shane Smeltz – The Kiwi striker had a horrid opening three months to the season, playing just four games as he struggled injuries to his hip and then ankle.

Smeltz has seemingly turned the corner in 2014 though as he has played in Perth’s last three matches, scoring three goals.

The 32-year-old striker loves playing against Victory as well, having scored more goals (11) against the navy blue and whites than any other A-League club.

 Source: www.footballaustralia.com.au