A sibling rivalry sets the title-race alight in Round 10 while Brisbane Strikers welcome SWQ Thunder in the live-stream match.
Brisbane City FC v Western Pride FC
Friday, 15 May / Corporate Travel Management Stadium / 8:30PM
Brisbane City have had seven days to pick themselves up from perhaps their most disappointing result of the season to date, conceding five against fellow strugglers Redlands United last Friday.
Coach Darron Heselden spoke during the week about taking small performance-based steps and a first home match since mid-April presents an ideal setting for progress.
Their resolve will be tested by a similarly-youthful Western Pride side also out to rebound from defeat.
The visitors need points to break back into the top four after being overrun in the final 20 minutes of their match with Moreton Bay United.
Moreton Bay United FC v Palm Beach SC
Saturday, 16 May / Wolter Park / 3:00PM
If league-leaders against reigning champions wasn’t enough, Moreton Bay United’s hosting of Palm Beach SC also brings family rivalry into play.
Adam Piddick’s high-flying Jets welcome older brother Grae’s Sharks in what could be one of the matches of the season.
The visitors slumped to a second loss in three matches last weekend as their faltering title defence continued, but the elder Piddick will hope to inflict a first defeat on his sibling to kick-start Sharks’ campaign.
Jets will have to compensate for the loss of creative attacker Daniel Clark, who departed for Victorian club Hume City during the week.
Brisbane Roar FC Youth v Sunshine Coast FC
Saturday, 16 May / Perry Park / 3:30PM
Sunshine Coast are arguably the in-form team of the competition ahead of Saturday afternoon’s visit to Brisbane Roar Youth with four straight wins in the bank.
That run has rocketed Fire to within a point of the top two and sparked hopes of a second finals appearance in three campaigns.
Young Roar must overcome a considerable amount of rust if they’re to stop Paul Arnison’s side having not played a competitive fixture for almost a month.
However, they can call on greater experience after the Hyundai A-League debuts of Lachlan Jackson, Luke Pavlou and Abrahim Yango in that time.
Brisbane Strikers FC v South West Queensland Thunder FC
Saturday, 16 May / Perry Park / 6:00PM
Improvement is key to SWQ Thunder’s development and the Toowoomba team’s past two outings suggest they’re trending upward.
Chris Wilkes’ side were unfortunate not to take a point from Sunshine Coast last round before rebounding to their second ever competitive victory in the Westfield FFA Cup on Wednesday.
They will need every bit of that momentum to test Brisbane Strikers, who remain second after notching a 1-0 away win over Palm Beach SC.
Despite their fine form, Strikers will be mindful of needing to produce more in attack having scored only single goals in each of their past four encounters.
FNQ FC Heat v Redlands United FC
Saturday, 16 May / Barlow Park / 7:30PM
FNQ Heat emphatically broke out of a four-game funk last weekend with their 3-1 away win over Olympic FC.
Martin Docherty’s men suffocated the former champions in midfield as Jamie Carroll and Alex Smith wreaked havoc in attack, giving Redlands United plenty to think about on the flight to Cairns.
The Red Devils will perhaps prefer to concentrate on themselves with renewed optimism after putting five past Brisbane City to record a first league win of 2015.
Attacking quartet Elliott Ronto, Igor Sao Jose, Graham Fyfe and Nico Bechar all got on the scoresheet in that 5-1 victory.
Olympic FC v Northern Fury FC
Sunday, 17 May / Goodwin Park / 3:00PM
Northern Fury head south for the first time since March having had plenty of opportunity to prepare amidst a two-week layoff.
The Townsville team can draw plenty of confidence from their two road wins earlier this term and last week’s defeat of Olympic by fellow northerners FNQ Heat.
That loss brought an end to the hosts’ four-match winning run in the league and they have now dropped two straight in all competitions after being dumped out of the Westfield FFA Cup.
Only two points separate these teams and victory either way will be crucial for future finals reckoning.
For further news, match reports, video highlights and more from Football Queensland, visit www.nplqld.com.au