Words: Steve Pitman

Brisbane Strikers coach Kevin A’Herne-Evans says his team will need to hit the ground running in the opening rounds of the PlayStation 4 NPL Queensland season.

Football Queensland released the draw for the 2015 Senior Men’s season earlier this week, with Strikers confirmed as hosts of the opening match of the season against Redlands United on February 28.

Strikers are also scheduled to play in the final match of the regular season away to A’herne-Evans’ former club Sunshine Coast Fire.

A’Herne-Evans said the draw offered no opportunity for his team to ease itself into the competition.

“The opening rounds, in my opinion, are potentially full of excitement and will ensure there is nowhere to hide,” he said.

“Once again it sees our club facing Redlands and Brisbane City in the opening two weekends, but this year they are followed by Western Pride, Brisbane Roar NYL and FNQFC Heat.”

“Redlands in particular have been very active with their recruitment during the off-season, which is a slight change from previous years. They will have a number of new faces, but also experience in key positions, and they will be aiming for a finals berth.”

“The style of football demanded of them by Matt Chandler is arguably the most exciting in the competition,” he added.

Roar will face Perry Park co-tenants Brisbane Roar Youth in Round 4, a match A’herne-Evans highlighted as being a further litmus test.

“With the Roar, it will be the time of year where all their current National Youth League players are still involved”, A’Herne-Evans said.

“They pride themselves on controlling the tempo of the game. There is a lot of speed throughout the side and good combination play on the new surface at Perry Park will make them a force.”

Strikers will play the majority of their home fixtures in 2015 on Saturday nights, a change the club’s Chairman Bruce Atterton-Evans explained was based on increasing home support.

“When the draft draw came out for 2015 the majority of our senior home games did not align with junior home weekends”, explained Atterton-Evans.

“We made the decision to go to Saturdays for the senior team so as to at least give the younger footballers and their families the opportunity to watch the senior team if it is possible for them.”

Atterton-Evans added that the Saturday night fixtures will also allow fans to benefit from floodlighting improvements made during the off-season.