Floreat Athena will be aiming to keep the pressure on first-placed Sorrento when theytake on Mandurah City in Round 10 of PlayStation 4 NPL WA on Saturday.
Sorrento, who face Joondalup United at Percy Doyle Reserve, are just four points ahead of Floreat and are heading into the weekend unbeaten.
Meanwhile, Stirling Lions will host third-placed Cockburn City at Macedonia Park on Saturday, with coach Rob Milevski focusing on his teams’ defensive abilities.
“We’re not going to underestimate Cockburn when we go in there, we respect every team and we’re looking forward to keeping the momentum going,” he said.
“We’ve had four clean sheets so our focus has been working hard on a defensive point of view.
“Hopefully our boys have their goal-scoring boots on and we can make our supporters proud here at home.”
Milevski is expecting a tough competition from Cockburn.
“They’re sitting third on the table and it’s a big game for us, they’ve got 15 points and we’re 11 with a game in hand so we’re expecting a tough game considering our positions on the table.
“It’s a six-point game for us if we’re going to keep in touch with that top four.
Cockburn coach Scott Miller is focusing less on the league ladder and more on the way his team plays each week.
“The table means nothing at the moment,” he said.
“There’s other people with games in hand and they’re nine games down so we don’t fall into the trap of thinking we’re anywhere, we just carry on.
“Stirling did very well against us last year in both home and away games. We were fortunate enough to knock them out of the Cup in the semi-finals so we’re confident if we play our best we can try and turn that around.”
Miller is looking towards Cameron Edwards and Calvin Whitney to lead the team this weekend but said he is expecting consistency from all players.
“In this league, everyone’s up and we try to be consistent week in, week out, to keep that same work ethic and be accountable,” he said.
“Stirling are in a way a bit similar to us with the young boys, and they’re also very quick and very talented.
“Last week our young Daniel Robinson made his debut and got a goal on debut so he’ll be buzzing to get back on the field again.”
An action-packed round 10 will start when Perth SC face Subiaco at Dorrien Gardens, while Bayswater City take on Perth Glory at Finance 365 Stadium.
Balcatta will host ECU Joondalup at Grindleford Reserve, while it’s a home-ground derby for Percy Doyle Reserve locals Sorrento and Joondalup United.
To wrap up the round, Inglewood will face Armadale at Perth Plasterboard Centre Stadium.
FIXTURES
Saturday, April 22
Perth SC v Subiaco (Dorrien Gardens, 3pm)
Bayswater City v Perth Glory (Finance 365 Stadium, 3pm)
Balcatta v ECU Joondalup (Grindleford Reserve, 3pm)
Stirling Lions v Cockburn City (Macedonia Park, 3pm)
Sorrento v Joondalup United (Percy Doyle Reserve, 3pm)
Inglewood United v Armadale (Perth Plasterboard Centre Stadium, 3pm)
Mandurah City v Floreat Athena (Securitas Protect Stadium, 3pm)