Words: Michael Flynn & Steve Pitman
Image: Albert Perez/Moreton Bay United FC

Brisbane Strikers coach Kevin A’herne-Evans says his side is ready for the toughest test of the season in Sunday's top-of-the-table clash with Moreton Bay United.

Both Strikers and Jets are unbeaten after five rounds, with Strikers 5-1 win over Brisbane Roar Youth moving the two-time PlayStation® 4 NPL Queensland Semi-Finalists into top spot on the ladder but Jets holding a game in hand.

A’herne-Evans suggested the result on Sunday could well set the tone for both side’s PlayStation 4 NPL Queensland 2015 title aspirations - describing the result of the match as “massive”.

“(A win) could put us four points ahead of Moreton Bay and that would mean we would play Olympic next Friday night (at least) five points clear of them as well, so the pressure then all of a sudden starts to go on the opposition teams to catch us,” A’herne-Evans explained.

He added, “We’re still relatively early in terms of the stage of the season that we’re in and we know how big this next month is for us as a football club.”

“But looking at this initial battle, training this week has been at a very high standard and everyone is coming off the confidence of a great performance against Roar.”

“These are the games that as players, as coaching staff and as clubs – these are the games you want to be involved in.”

To that end, A’herne-Evans said he was in no doubt that Jets are genuine title contenders in 2015.

“If their first four results of the season don’t prove that - by beating Olympic, beating Redlands, beating (Sunshine Coast) Fire and beating Brisbane City – if people don’t genuinely believe that they are contenders then they are kidding themselves,” A’herne-Evans explained.

He further clarified,”I always thought they were a good side under Terry Kirkham and, out of all the big teams in the NPL over the past couple of years, they are the only team that hasn’t lost its strike power”, A’Herne-Evans explained.

“You look at ourselves, and Matt Thurtell, you look at Olympic and you look at Palm Beach – all the key goal scorers have left the group.”

“With Moreton Bay, that isn’t the case. They’ve still got Charles Mendy, they’ve still got Royce Brownlie, Jordan Farina is always good at popping up with goals and they’ve added to their goal tally by bringing in Daniel Clark.”

Despite the threat, A’herne-Evans said his team would again strive to take control of the match from the outset and not let the opposition dictate terms.

“It’s up to us to rise to that challenge. We always talk about being a team taking the initiative to the opposition and that won’t change on the weekend.”

“I anticipate an end-to-end battle, high intensity, and it’s going to be a blockbuster no doubt about it  on Sunday,” he concluded.

Strikers defeated Jets twice in the PlayStation 4 NPL Queensland 2014 campaign - both wins coming courtesy of 4-2 margins.