Glory Head Coach Alex Epakis has insisted that the focus within his playing group remains unchanged ahead of Sunday’s vital home game against Western Sydney Wanderers (kick-off at 4pm, tickets HERE).
Following last weekend’s results, Glory now sit five points adrift of fourth-placed Melbourne Victory with two games in hand on Jeff Hopkins’ reigning champions as the race for Finals enters its last furlong.
But although their destiny is now in their own hands, the Head Coach is adamant that it changes nothing in terms of his and the squad’s approach to their remaining games.
“The players and staff are very happy, but we’re also committed and focused,” he said.
“We’re happy that what we’re doing on the training ground and the preparation and effort that’s going in during the week is getting us good performances and points on the weekend, but we’re also really fixated on the next game and the one after that.
“It’s step by step and we’re not getting too far ahead of ourselves just yet.
“The key message is now that we can’t change what we’ve been doing or our mindset.
“We’ve got to keep believing that every game is just as important and whether it’s in our hands or not, the reality is we just want to win the game.
“Knowing that that’s there in the background is nice, but we’re not going to change anything we’ve been doing to put ourselves in this position.”
Sunday’s opponents currently sit three places and four points below Glory in the table having struggled for consistency all season, but Epakis is still keenly aware of their potential to spoil his side’s bid to secure a fifth successive victory.
“Where they are right now, they’re probably looking at finishing as high as they possibly can and building for next season,” he said.
“So we can’t underestimate that and I think they do have players that, if we’re not focused and just roll up expecting to get the job done, will hurt us.
“That’s been a key message.
“We can’t take anyone for granted.
“They’ve got a few players who, in transition and in attack, can cause damage with their speed and directness.
“So I imagine they’ll look to utlilise those players and we’ll have to be really ready for that.”
In terms of team news, Epakis confirmed that Glory sustained no fresh injuries in last weekend’s win over Brisbane Roar, but Tijan McKenna is unavailable due to her international commitments with the Young Matildas.
10 of the 17 previous meetings between the two club’s have gone Glory’s way, with the eight most recent of those clashes producing an even split of four wins apiece.
Interestingly, there has never been a draw in this fixture.
Match Details
Liberty A-League 2022/23 Season Round 16
Perth Glory v Western Sydney Wanderers
Macedonia Park
Sunday 5 March 2023
Kick-off: 4pm WST
Perth Glory squad: 1.Morgan AQUINO (gk), 3.Kim CARROLL, 4.Natasha RIGBY (c), 7.Liz ANTON, 8.Hana LOWRY, 9.Demi KOULIZAKIS, 12.Sofia SAKALIS, 13.Sarah CAIN, 14.Hannah BLAKE, 15.Cyera HINTZEN, 16.Isabella WALLHEAD, 17.Abbey GREEN, 18.Sadie LAWRENCE, 19.Izzy FOLETTA, 20.Sarah LANGMAN (gk), 21.Ella MASTRANTONIO, 23.Alana JANCEVSKI
Ins: 16.Isabella WALLHEAD
Outs: Nil
Unavailable: 6.Tijan MCKENNA (international duty), 10.Susan PHONSONGKHAM (injured), 11.Rylee BAISDEN (injured), 24.Milan HAMMOND (injured)
Western Sydney Wanderers squad: 1.Jordyn BLOOMER (GK), 4.Angelique HRISTODOULOU, 5.Lauren KEIR, 6.Amy CHESSARI, 7.Amy HARRISON, 8.Olivia PRICE, 9.Sophie HARDING, 10.Sienna SAVESKA, 11.Danika MATOS, 13.Jitka CHLASTAKOVA, 14.Clare HUNT (C), 15.Cushla RUE, 16.Malia STEINMETZ, 17.Sheridan GALLAGHER, 18.Bethany GORDON, 19.Sarina BOLDEN, 20.Shamiran KHAMIS (GK), 21.Alexia APOSTOLAKIS, 23.Ella ABDUL MASSIH, 25.Holly CASPERS, 26.Aimee HALL (GK)
Ins: Nil
Outs: Nil
Unavailable: Nil
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