Words: Michael Flynn
Image: Pine Creek Pictures

The Premiership title could be claimed this weekend in the penultimate round of PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues.

 

Moreton Bay United FC v FNQ FC Heat
Saturday, August 13 | 6:00PM
Wolter Park, Moreton Bay

Match Centre – http://bit.ly/2aLNSwm

Heat likely need all three points from the opening match of the round against Jets if they are to take Premiership race into the final week of the regular season.

The Cairns-based club dropped to second on the table after last weekend’s defeat to Strikers and now must rely on the league-leaders dropping points if they are to claim their maiden title.

Standing in their way this weekend is an enigmatic Jets side out of the Finals race and now casting their eye to next season and reviewing their playing stocks.

The pressure is on both clubs in different ways and the result will be anything but predictable.

Match Officials - Trent Sleeman (referee), Dylan Lambert (assistant), Danielle Potticary (assistant), Joey Lee (fourth)

Brisbane City FC v Redlands United FC
Saturday, August 13 | 6:30PM
Corporate Travel Management Stadium, Brisbane

Match Centre – http://bit.ly/2baZJVN

City and Redlands face off on Saturday night in a fixture that will give the winner the inside running for a fourth-placed finish.

These sides shared the honours in their two previous meetings this season – City upsetting the Red Devils on their home patch in the league before Redlands exacted revenge in the Westfield FFA Cup four days later.

Form arguably favours City, with the club undefeated in their past five matches and coming off a season’s best 4-0 win over Young Roar in the last round.

However, Redlands are also coming off two straight wins in all competitions and will not want to miss PlayStation 4 NPL Queensland Finals football after their first taste last season.

Match Officials - Adam Kersey (referee), Jay Hudson (assistant), Oleg Labuz (assistant), Isidro Terol Crespo (fourth)

Western Pride FC v SWQ Thunder FC
Saturday, August 13 | 7:00PM
Briggs Road Sporting Complex, Ipswich

Match Centre – http://bit.ly/2bmMKov

Both Pride and Thunder are seeking back-to-back wins for just the second time this season when they clash in Ipswich.

The second-from-bottom Pride ended a nine-match winless run last weekend in a hard-fought scrap against Jets, while Thunder notched the biggest win in their history in a polished performance against Fire.

History strongly favours the hosts, with Thunder yet to take a point off Pride in five previous meetings, while Pride’s 5-1 win earlier this year is their biggest win of the season.

Match Officials - James Sherry (referee), Daniel Olson (assistant), Brad Burton (assistant), Renae Coghill (fourth)

Northern Fury FC v Brisbane Strikers FC
Saturday, August 13 | 7:00PM
Townsville Sports Reserve, Townsville

Match Centre – http://bit.ly/2aOaKuR

Depending on the result between Jets and Heat, Strikers could claim the Premiers title with three points against bottom-placed Fury in Townsville.

Strikers have proven near indomitable for much of the season but will be desperate to avoid a repeat of their previous trip to the tropics when they returned from Cairns empty-handed.

For Fury, time is fast running out to avoid becoming only the second Queensland club to conclude a PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues season without a win.

It will be the upset of the season if they can do it against the league-leaders, who have everything to play for and have been defeated just once since April.

Match Officials - Rachel Mitchenson (referee), Jack Nicolosi (assistant) Liam Oconnor (assistant), Graham Buzzi (fourth)

Gold Coast City FC v Brisbane Roar FC Youth
Sunday, August 14 | 5:00PM
Runaway Bay Super Sports Centre, Gold Coast

Match Centre – http://bit.ly/2aXLExn

Unbeaten in their past six matches, City takes to new surrounds when they host Young Roar at Runaway Bay in Sunday’s early kick-off.

A win for the hosts will mean they can finish no lower than third on the table and confirm their return to the PlayStation 4 NPL Queensland Finals for the first time since their all-conquering 2014 campaign.

They will line-up against a Young Roar side in a state of flux following the departure of coach Josh McCloughan earlier this week.

However, with Roar’s style and philosophies proving unwavering in recent seasons, a repeat of their last meeting arm-wrestle could well still be on the cards.

Match Officials - Andrew Lindsay (referee), Thomas Cullane (assistant), Mitch Miller (assistant), George Gillings (fourth)

Olympic FC v Sunshine Coast FC
Sunday, August 14 | 6:00PM
Goodwin Park, Brisbane

Match Centre – http://bit.ly/2aGS4SI

Coming off their first defeat in five outings, Olympic are seeking a make or break three points when they host Fire in the closing match of the round.

Currently sitting two points outside the top four, the hosts could well jump back into the finals picture depending on the result of Saturday’s Redlands and City clash.

However, they will need to overcome a Fire side desperate to finally take a point off Olympic after seven previously unsuccessful attempts.

Match Officials – Rebecca Durcau (referee), Danielle Potticary (assistant), Renae Coghill (assistant), John Vasiliadis (fourth)