Both sides were involved in classic cup ties last week, with Perth scoring deep into injury time to beat Inglewood United while the Lions conceded a late goal to eventually lose on penalties to ECU Joondalup. The sides are only separated by two points on the table so a victory is vital to move up the table.

Graham Normanton is looking forward to the clash. “It’s another big game for the club but they are all big games if you want to win the league, and when you come against a club that are a major contender it’s even more important,” said Normanton.

The loss of influential midfielder Robbie Puca is a big blow for the home side but the form of Andrija Jukic is a positive. The former Western Knights midfielder scored the winner last week and his partnership along with David Price and Antonio Naglieri is giving Perth drive. Normanton believes Jukic has taken time to settle at the club but he is showing his worth at present. “He’s scored three goals in three games, and it’s good to see him hit some form as it took him a while to settle in at the club and the way I wanted him to play, but he’s a good player and he has been a big bonus for us in the last three weeks,” explained Normanton.

At the back the return from injury of Trent Kay is another huge plus for Perth along with the experienced Gianfranco Circati they will need to be on their toes against a lively Lions strike force. Missing for Perth will be Michael Icanovski who was sent off last week.

The cup fight back last week pleased Normanton and he said it could be a spring board to start their season. “Many people in the game say we don’t have any spirit at the club, but last week we were losing 1-0 and were down to nine men and we showed a lot of people we do have spirit in our club, and the players are really focused on the job and the result could kick start the rest of the season for us,” commented Normanton. 

The Lions coach Michael Lyons was disappointed with last week’s performance in the cup loss to ECU Joondalup and he hopes his side can turn it around this week. “I was very disappointed with the way we lost last week. We had the game in the bag, against nine men but we let it slip in the last minute. We have to learn from that defeat because you can’t lose games like that when you are in the driving seat,” said Lyons.

The former Everton defender is looking forward to the Perth clash on Sunday and believes it will be a good game. “Perth are the bench mark in the league and it’s a good game for us, and after last week’s disappointing game it’s a good game for us to show where we are really at this season,” explained Lyons.

The Lions have also lost an influential player after Steven Hesketh suffered a broken leg against Floreat Athena in round five and Lyons believes it’s a big loss for the club. “I think the world of Stevie Hesketh; he’s a really good player and is the sort of player the National league requires. His all round enthusiasm and drive is second to none and his attitude rubs of on the other players and it’s a big blow that we haven’t got him,” explained Lyons. 

The midfield of the Lions is one of the best in the league with Marc Anthony, Steve Porter and Alan Muir forming a solid line, and you can add youngsters Ludovic Boi, Phil Arnold and Dannie Richman to the equation. Up front Mark Redshaw has shown his capabilities in front of goal and his partnership with Andy Brown will cause the Perth defence problems.

League leaders Sorrento travels to Dalmatinac Park to take on Cockburn City (3pm) Steve Neville’s side are unbeaten in the league this season and will hope to continue that against Mirko Jelilcic’s side. The Gulls will welcome back Stuart Montgomery and Michael Ord, who both missed last week’s 3-0 cup win against first division Wanneroo City, but they will still be without keeper Neil Young. Youngster Scott Neville has shown his worth to the side over recent weeks in midfield along with Shaun Kilkelly and Scott Bulloch.

Cockburn had the week off last time out and will hope the rest will give them the edge against Sorrento. Michael Mirco missed the last league game against Inglewood and he will hope to return against the league leaders. At the back Jason Godfrey and Liam Lilly will look to protect young keeper Dejan Aleksic, who has performed admirably in his first season in the senior side. 

Third placed Mandurah City entertains Fremantle Spirit at the Hyundai Stadium on Saturday evening (7.30pm) Stuart Currie’s side has shown they will not be push overs this season and will fancy their chances against the winless Spirit. The form of midfielders Andy a nd Keith Brown has been superb for City, likewise Phil O’Callaghan and 16-year-old Michael Currie up front. Also veteran keeper Mike Green has added stability to the City’s defence.

Fremantle won for the first time this campaign after beating Armadale 1-0 in the Cup last week, and Coach Marc Wingell will hope for a continuation this week. A penalty from midfielder Cisco Jorquiera was enough last week, but the Spirit will hope for three points this week. The form of Ben Kelly must have pleased coach Wingell also that off Lee Hallums and Adrian McBride, and the Sprit hope to end their losing streak.

Another side looking for their first points of the season is Armadale and they travel north to take on E.C.U. Joondalup at the ECU University Arena (3pm) Willie McNally’s side are in good form and are coming off a stunning cup tie victory against Stirling Lions last week. Midfielder Craig Young has taken his chance since his return to the starting line-up with a double against the Spirit last time in the league and his late goal last week sent the game to penalties, were ECU prevailed. Another to shine in recent weeks is Darren Broxton who looks like he’s back to his best football, but he limped off last week early against the Lions and is in doubt, while Craig Simpson and Scott Blackmore continue to impress.

Armadale are still looking for their first points but in most games they have been competitive, and Brad Hassell will hope to see a few players returning from injury and suspension this week. Shannon Dally, Andy Bowyer and Stefan Smiljanic should all return to bolster the line up but the season may be over for influential attacking midfielder Jason Goodwin who may have to undergo knee surgery. Keeper Cyril Sharrock has been in superb form this season and he and defender Daryl Platten will be busy on Saturday.

It’s been a difficult start to the season for the Western Knights but they will hope to turn that around when they entertain Swan IC at Nash Field on Saturday. (3pm) The home side won convincingly last week in the cup against first division side Morley Windmills.  But their league form has been indifferent and Ronnie Campbell will hope to remedy this on Saturday. Striker Rory Grant has hit a purple patch in front of goal and along with exciting teenager Anthony Skorich, but it’s at the back were they have been struggling conceding 14 goals in their five games and key defender Jonathan Mathers will hope for a big game against his former club.

The Swans have opened the season well, although they have played three of the opening five rounds at home, and their only defeat came on their only road trip at ECU. Black and whites Coach Paul Lincoln hopes to turn that around on Saturday and he will hope to have Paul Baczynski and Damien Catalano available after missing the opening month of football. Aaron Cole has lead by example this season; the skipper has been a tower of strength at the back along with youngster David McNally. Cory Hugo has also been in a rich vein of form in goal and he knows he will be in for a busy time on Saturday.

The final game of the round is at the E&D Litis Stadium, where Inglewood United visit Floreat Athena (3pm)

Michael Roki’s side are coming off a hard fought 2-1 win against Mandurah City in the cup a game with Garrin Collins continuing his good start to the season with the winner. The loss through injury of new signing David Foster is a huge blow for the club but New Zealand import Brad Scott continues to impress. Vas Vujacic has shown in recent weeks why he’s one of the best keepers in the league, while Ante Kovacevic and Julian Madaschi continue to hold the defence tight.

Inglewood had victory snatched away from them last week at Perth in stoppage time and Coach Lee Bamber will look for some character from his players in Saturday’s clash.  Oliver Taseski has been in superb form between the sticks for the Wood, but will be out on suspension this weekend, while James Duncan and Shane Pryce have formed a good partnership at the heart of the defence. Missing on Saturday will be influential defender Danny Kovacevic and youngster James Summut who were both sent off at Perth.