Words: Nick Crockford
Image: Albert Perez/Moreton Bay United

Moreton Bay United is gearing up for the biggest weekend in its short history - with two make or break games on one day against Brisbane Strikers.

Jets’ Senior and Youth teams are both fifth on their respective ladders, one place behind Strikers, and both must win at Wolter Park on Saturday to make the top four.

Jets coach Terry Kirkham was under no illusion as to the importance of the matches.

“These are cup finals, grand finals for both teams. No doubt about it,” Kirkham said.

“On Saturday we’re going to have a huge crowd. The players know their jobs. If they give us their best then we’re in with a shot.

“We just want to make sure they enjoy it. As a group we enjoy it. We’re training with smiles on our faces, having some fun and not putting any stress on them.”

Despite a season’s work resting on the next 90 minutes, Jets’ captain Royce Brownlie, who had two spells at Strikers in his career, appeared relaxed and ready.

“I probably felt more pressure last week (at Palm Beach) against the top side, with two A-League defenders and defence that hardly concedes goals,” said Brownlie.

“Strikers concede goals, as well as score them. Hopefully we can catch them at a weak point and be at our best.

“We’re looking forward to this weekend. We’ve been playing well. At Palm Beach we had three half chances, I hit the post and expected to do better.”

Kirkham added: “We were the better side (at Palm Beach). We played some sensational football and showed how far we have developed. Our diagonal passing, short passing, movement, speed of shutting people down, it all came together.”

Kirkham will make at least two changes for Saturday’s showdown against Strikers with Corey Hooper and Alex Henderson likely to replace the suspended Jordan Farina and Chris Maticic.

“The last time they (Hooper and Henderson) were paired up we copped a belting at Strikers and they went out of the side. But I am very confident they are going to step up.

“I’ve been very, very confident in this team all year. We just need things to go our way and take our chances.”

Brownlie, the NPL Queensland joint leading scorer with 32 goals this season, believes the match tempo will be key for his team.

“If we go out and keep the tempo high, keep them under pressure, we’ll have a great chance,” he said, “but if we let them play, they’ll give us a game."

Kick-off at Wolter Park between Strikers and Jets is scheduled for 6PM. The match will be bookended by the Youth clash at 3:30PM and Under-18s at PM.