This week's NPL and NPL 1 fixtures will be played as part of the Don't Stand By. Stand Up! Round, an initiative by FFV and VicHealth which empowers football clubs and their players, officials and spectators to respond when they witness racism.

The official launch of the Don't Stand By. Stand Up! campaign will take place at 2pm at Knights Stadium on Sunday, in the NPL fixture between Melbourne Knights and Port Melbourne.

NPL

Pascoe Vale v Oakleigh Cannons
13th v 2nd    
8.30pm, Friday May 23, 2014
Hosken Reserve
Radio: Live on NPL VIC Live (or via TuneIn app on smartphones – search ‘Live Cast’)
Twitter: Live updates @nplvictoria, #PVvOC #NPLVIC
Highlights to follow on FFV TV

Last round:
South Melbourne 1-0 Pascoe Vale
Oakleigh Cannons 1-1 Northcote City

Form:
Pascoe Vale: WDLDL
Oakleigh Cannons: DWWWD

These sides may be positioned at opposite ends of the table, but based on last week’s showings they could be in for a dogfight on Friday night. The Cannons were outplayed in large parts of their draw with Northcote City, while Pascoe Vale took it right up to league leader South Melbourne. There will plenty at stake in this contest, with Pascoe Vale fighting to avoid relegation and Oakleigh trying to close the gap on South Melbourne. Listen to the action with NPL VIC Live (details above).

Bentleigh Greens v Heidelberg United
4th v 3rd    
8.30pm, Friday May 23, 2014
Kingston Heath Soccer Complex
Twitter: Live updates @nplvictoria, #BGvHU #NPLVIC

Last round:
Goulburn Valley Suns 1-1 Bentleigh Greens
Heidelberg United 1-0 Melbourne Knights

Form:
Bentleigh Greens: WWLLD
Heidelberg United: WWWWW

The Greens looked like a genuine title contender a month ago, but there are now doubts over last year’s Victorian Premier League finalists. They are winless in their past three matches and will be without suspended first-choice goalkeeper Alastair Bray, though Stuart Webster is a quality replacement. Heidelberg is daring to dream after a run of five successive wins but will be without key player Daniel Vasilevski, who had to be taken to hospital last week with a dislocated knee. Vasilevski has played a big part in Heidelberg scoring the most goals in the league so far, and his loss could prove costly.

Dandenong Thunder v Ballarat Red Devils
5th v 10th     
7.00pm, Saturday May 24, 2014
George Andrews Reserve
Twitter: Live updates @nplvictoria, hashtags #DTvBRD #NPLVIC

Last round:
Dandenong Thunder 0-3 Werribee City
Ballarat Red Devils 3-2 Green Gully

Form:
Dandenong Thunder: DLLWL
Ballarat Red Devils: LDLLW

It’s hard to know what we can expect when these two inconsistent sides line up on Saturday night. Thunder had built up some momentum before falling to Werribee City, and coach Dean Hennessey was left to lament a second-half fadeout and the absence of injured captain Alan Mulcahy. Dandenong may regain Mulcahy against the Red Devils, who will be full of confidence after breaking their five-game winless streak with a last-gasp win over Green Gully. Dane Milovanovic was the hero and the Bentleigh recruit is quickly returning to his best form after an injury-interrupted start to the season.

Hume City v Green Gully
6th v 11th
3.00pm, Sunday May 25, 2014
Broadmeadows Valley Park
Twitter: Live updates @nplvictoria, #HCvGG #NPLVIC

Last round:
Port Melbourne 1-1 Hume City
Ballarat Red Devils 3-2 Green Gully

Form:
Hume City: WLWWD
Green Gully: LLWLL

The in-form Hume City adapted well without injured captain Nick Hegarty last week and will be highly fancied to defeat a struggling Green Gully, which has already had two coaching changes in a disastrous start to the season. Slobode ‘Bob’ Stojcevski didn’t get the start he was after in his first game at the helm against Ballarat, but defender Rodrigo Vargas told radio station SEN during the week that he was confident his side could rely on its experience to turn around its fortunes.

Werribee City v South Melbourne
7th v 1st        
3.00pm, Sunday May 25, 2014
Galvin Park
Twitter: Live updates @nplvictoria, #WCvSM #NPLVIC

Last round:
Dandenong Thunder 0-3 Werribee City
South Melbourne 1-0 Pascoe Vale

Form:
Werribee City: WLLDW
South Melbourne: WWWWW

Werribee City is unpredictable but seems to relish the underdog tag, as evidenced with its surprise 3-0 win away to Dandenong last week. The Bees aren’t the best at playing high-quality possession football but are dangerous at set pieces, and they’ll look to exploit South Melbourne at the back if the league leader is without injured defender Michael Eagar, who is rated a 50-50 chance to return. This a massive danger game for South Melbourne, which is searching for its tenth win in a row.

Northcote City v Goulburn Valley Suns
9th v 14th
3.00pm, Sunday May 25, 2014
John Cain Memorial Reserve
Radio: Live on NPL VIC Live (or via TuneIn app on smartphones – search ‘Live Cast’)
Twitter: Live updates @nplvictoria, #NCvGVS #NPLVIC

Last round:
Oakleigh Cannons 1-1 Northcote City
Goulburn Valley Suns 1-1 Bentleigh Greens

Form:
Northcote City: WWLLD
Goulburn Valley Suns: LLWLL

Northcote City could consider itself unlucky not to ruin Oakleigh’s undefeated season last week, having dominated the second half in the 1-1 draw. Northcote City regained classy winger Evan Kounavelis and suspended coach Goran Lozanovski against Oakleigh, and now has all of its stars back in the line-up. All the signs point towards a strong performance for Northcote on Sunday, though the Suns may surprise as they battle to avoid relegation. Listen to the action with NPL VIC Live (details above).

Melbourne Knights v Port Melbourne Sharks
12th v 8th
3.00pm, Sunday May 25, 2014
Knights Stadium
Twitter: Live updates @nplvictoria, #MKvPM #NPLVIC

Last round:
Heidelberg United 1-0 Melbourne Knights
Port Melbourne Sharks 1-1 Hume City

Form:
Melbourne Knights: LLLLL
Port Melbourne Sharks: LLWWD

The stats are getting uglier by the week for the Knights, who have now lost seven in a row and scored just one goal in their past five matches. Such is their injury crisis that defender Milan Batur has had to be used a makeshift striker, but they showed great resolve in their narrow loss to the high-flying Heidelberg United. The Sharks are in solid form but are no certainties to win given their consistency. This match will also serve as the official launch for FFV and VicHealth’s Don’t Stand By. Stand Up! campaign, an initiative aimed at educating the Victorian football community to stand up and safely intervene when they witness racism.

NPL 1

Avondale Heights v Dandenong City
1st v 7th
3.00pm, Saturday May 24, 2014
Avondale Heights Reserve
Twitter: Live updates @nplvictoria, #AHvDC #NPLVIC

Sunshine George Cross v Box Hill United
3rd v 2nd    
3.00pm, Saturday May 24, 2014
Chaplin Reserve
Twitter: Live updates @nplvictoria, #SGCvBHU #NPLVIC

Whittlesea Ranges v North Geelong Warriors
12th v 9th      
6.00pm, Saturday May 24, 2014
Epping Stadium
Twitter: Live updates @nplvictoria, #WRvNGW #NPLVIC

FC Bendigo v Springvale White Eagles
11th v 10th  
7.00pm, Saturday May 24, 2014
Tom Flood Sports Centre
Twitter: Live updates @nplvictoria, #FCBvSWE #NPLVIC

St Albans Saints v Brunswick City
5th v 14th    
3.00pm, Sunday May 25, 2014
Churchill Reserve
Twitter: Live updates @nplvictoria, #SASvBC #NPLVIC

Moreland Zebras v Richmond
11th v 8th
3.00pm, Sunday May 25, 2014
De Chene Reserve
Twitter: Live updates @nplvictoria, #MZvRSC #NPLVIC

Kingston City v FC Bulleen Lions
6th v 4th
8.30pm, Monday May 26, 2014
The Grange Reserve
Twitter: Live updates @nplvictoria, #KCvFCB #NPLVIC

Image credit: Mark Avellino