Words: Staff Writers

Brisbane Strikers defender Greig Henslee expects former club Sunshine Coast will be highly motivated to recapture their rivalry supremacy at Perry Park on Saturday night.

Henslee was integral to Fire’s dominance of Strikers in the old Queensland State League (QSL) and captained the club in its inaugural PlayStation® 4 NPL Queensland season.

After a year away from the competition, the defender made the move to join former Fire coach Kevin A’Herne-Evans in Brisbane and knows exactly what to expect in the fixture’s furnace.

“Any team, to be fair, playing against the Brisbane Strikers – just with the club that they are and the side and the history that we have – it’s one that all teams look forward to,” Henslee said.

“All teams like to get one over Brisbane Strikers.

“I think obviously the rivalry that the Fire and the Strikers have had in the QSL days has just sort of carried on. Mind, it’s a healthy rivalry – I think it’s a good one.”

Henslee missed Strikers’ 2-1 Westfield FFA Cup win over Moreton Bay United in midweek with an ankle injury but is hopeful of being ready to take his place in the all top-four clash.

Fire’s form has not been lost on the 32-year-old, who admits he has been keeping a keen eye on his old side.

“I’ve been watching highlights throughout the year and they seem very direct,” he said.

“Obviously Paul Arnison is there and I played with him in 2013. With him coming from a full-time background back in England, I think he was full time in the game for eighteen years, he comes with a wealth of experience.

“They do sort of go back to front. They get it forward early and they press high and they cause a lot of trouble in and around the box and it has obviously been working for them.”

With Arnison’s maturing squad performing above expectations to date, Henslee tipped a tough contest.

“Within the Fire squad there are quite a few boys who actually have played (in Strikers v Fire games) back in the day, albeit they were a little bit younger at the time,” the Scotsman said.

“I watched them on the weekend against Brisbane Roar Youth and there’s a lot of big boys out there. They’re all at a good age now, 22 or 23 years old, and have a bit of experience behind them and I’m fully expecting a physical encounter.”

This article originally appeared on the official Brisbane Strikers website.

PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues Queensland Round 11
Brisbane Strikers FC v Sunshine Coast FC
Perry Park
Saturday, 23 May
Kick-off - 6:00PM