Captain Tom Aldred is hoping for a sea of orange on Saturday night as the Roar returns to Suncorp Stadium for the first time in three weeks.
The skipper, who missed the most recent home fixture against the Phoenix through suspension, is itching to return to home turf when the Roar meet the Reds tomorrow night (6:30pm KO).
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Speaking before training on Friday morning, Aldred is hoping his side can extend their unbeaten start to 2020 at home as they continue their push for finals football.
“It’s always good to come home after a couple of away games. We had a good win previous against Wellington,” Aldred said.
“It’ll be good to get back home in front of our home supporters and obviously if they come in their numbers to support us that’d be great.
“I know we’ve had some good results at home and it’s been when the fans have been right behind us.”
“With the games remaining for the rest of the season, we have a lot of home games. We want to make our home a fortress.
“We know that if our home form is good, we give ourselves a right opportunity to be in the six.”
The Roar sit just shy of tomorrow night’s opponents, who currently sit 5th, in what is shaping as a genuine six-point game.
Aldred is expecting another tough challenge from the Reds. The sides last met back in Round 5 with a late strike earning Adelaide the points.
“Going into the second half of the season now, it’s about looking where we want to go going forward and we’re in and around that position now but we’re looking beyond that,” Aldred added.
“It’s just a case of us taking one game at a time and pushing up the league and we do that by winning football matches. Obviously, that starts tomorrow.
“They’re a side who are in and around us. We’ve played them already this season and we know about them in terms of what they are.
“Every game is a big game, but when you’re playing a side that are in the same hunt as what you are, we know it’s a big game and it’s one we’re looking forward to.”
MATCH DETAILS
Hyundai A-League 2019/20: Round 18 – Brisbane Roar v Adelaide United
Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Saturday, 8 February (6:30pm KO)
Brisbane Roar FC squad: 1.Max CROCOMBE (gk), 3.Corey BROWN, 4.Daniel BOWLES, 5.Tom ALDRED (c), 6.Macaulay GILLESPHEY, 8.Jacob PEPPER, 10.Bradden INMAN, 12.Aiden O’NEILL, 15.Aaron REARDON, 19.Jack HINGERT, 20.Aaron AMADI-HOLLOWAY, 21.Jamie YOUNG (gk), 22.Jake MCGING, 23.Dylan WENZEL-HALLS, 25.Rahmat AKBARI, 26.Jay O’SHEA, 27.Kai TREWIN, 28.Izaack POWELL, 30.Mirza MURATOVIC, 77.Scott MCDONALD
**2-4 to be omitted**
Ins: 15.Aaron REARDON (promoted), 22.Jake MCGING (promoted), 27.Kai TREWIN (promoted)
Outs: 2.Scott NEVILLE (suspended – 1 week)
Adelaide United squad: 2.Michael MARRONE, 4.Ryan STRAIN, 5.Michaël MARIA, 6.Stefan MAUK, 7.Ryan KITTO, 8.Riley McGREE, 11.Kristian OPSETH, 17.Nikola MILEUSNIĆ, 18.Lachlan BROOK, 20.Paul IZZO (gk), 22.Michael JAKOBSEN (c), 23.Jordan ELSEY, 26.Ben HALLORAN, 27.Louis D’ARRIGO, 31.Mirko BOLAND, 33.Cooper NUNN, 40.Dakota OCHSENHAM (gk), Mohamed TOURE
**0-2 to be omitted**
Ins: 6.Stefan MAUK (promoted), 33.Cooper NUNN (promoted), Mohamed TOURE (promoted)
Outs: 14.George BLACKWOOD, 16.Nathan KONSTANDOPOULOS (knee)
Unavailable: 10.James TROISI (quad), (24.Pacifique NIYONGABIRE (adductor), 29.Kusini YENGI (knee), 30.Isaac RICHARDS (knee), 35.Al Hassan TOURE (foot)
Referee: Adam Fielding
Assistant Referee 1: David Walsh
Assistant Referee 2: Andrew Lindsay
Fourth Official: Alex King
VAR: Kris Griffiths-Jones
