Glory will be up against a host of familiar faces when they take on the Gold Fields WA State Team in Wednesday’s Challenge Cup clash at the Sam Kerr Football Centre (kick-off at 7pm, gates open at 6pm, admission FREE).
Ex-Glory Assistant Coach Andy Ord has selected the cream of the NPL WA and State League for the annual fixture, including a strong contingent of players who previously donned the famous purple.
Mitch Oxborrow will skipper the side and he is joined by fellow-midfielders Neil Kilkenny, Rostyn Griffiths, Matthew George and Declan Hughes, while Joe Knowles and Joel Chianese are expected to start up front, Aryn Williams, Zayd Farah and Nick Walsh are among Ord’s defensive options and Lewis Italiano could get the nod in goal.
The 2024 NPL WA Golden Boot winner, Armadale SC’s Pieter Jacobz, has also been named in the State squad, along with Kristian Santich and Luke Radonich.
Glory Head Coach David Zdrilic, meanwhile, has confirmed that he will need to juggle his squad somewhat ahead of a busy weekend during which the club’s Academy First Team and A-League side will face Dianella White Eagles and Newcastle Jets respectively.
“We’re managing numbers and all of that,” he said, “but we want to take it like the Tri Series game and go into it with the same mentality.
“It was a great hit-out for us and obviously Wednesday night will be another similar step forward in our preparations for the season.
“It’s not easy for us to get quality opposition to play here in WA in pre-season, so the quality we’re going to face in the State Team is perfect for this stage of our preparation.
“We want to expose as many players as we can to this kind of high-quality game and it will provide the ideal build-up for us leading into the two games against the Jets.”
Glory won last year’s corresponding fixture 3-0, with David Williams claiming two of the goals and the in-form striker is likely to feature prominently once again on Wednesday evening.
Joel Anasmo, Will Freney and Andriano Lebib may also come into selection contention after returning from injury in the Academy First Team’s play off win over Mandurah City.
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