Riverina Rhinos v Tuggeranong United - Yellow Tail Park - 3pm Saturday

Griffith will play host to PS4 NPL action again this weekend, as the Rhinos welcome Tuggeranong United a week after going down 4-2 at home to Canberra Olympic. The Rhinos showed some good fight in the second half of that match but were unable to prevent the loss, and this week face a Tuggeranong side that has improved since the two played out a thrilling 3-3 draw earlier this season. Their win the following week in Round Five is still their only victory of the season, and the hosts will be looking to knock off their travelling opponents and pull further away from the foot of the table.

For Tuggeranong, they have the chance to cosy right up to the top four with a win and can jump over Tigers FC straight away with three points here. A strong win in their last outing over Gungahlin showed that the team still has the desire to play finals football and with a game in hand on those around them they have the chance to make ground here. Tuggies did not seem to suffer without the presence of Niko Kalfas up front, and new signing Alex Oloriegbe was more than capable of doing the damage to United’s defence. The Rhinos will have their hands full with him this weekend and Tuggeranong will be confident of coming back to Canberra with three points in tow.

 

Woden-Weston v Canberra FC - Woden Park - 3pm Saturday

One of the competition’s current form teams, Woden-Weston will look to add their fifth win in six matches when they host the faltering Canberra FC at Woden Park. The Wanderers last match was a convincing 3-0 victory in Griffith, following their surprise win over Gungahlin the weekend before. Finally in control of a full and fit squad, Tony Olivera’s side have officially begun their run home and have started it well. With Canberra FC on the back foot after a home loss to Belconnen last round the Wanderers have a great chance to claim another big scalp here. A win here would pull them within five points of this weekend’s opponents, and help their growing chances of nabbing a spot in the Top Four come seasons end. 

For the visitors, another loss at home last round has set them back and they now sit on the cusp of finals and in real danger of dropping out of the four if their form continues. New signing Niko Kalfas jumped out of the blocks in his first outing with Canberra FC two weeks ago as he put them ahead against Belconnen United, but the hosts were unable to hang onto that lead, surrendering it as they went down 2-1. Without a league win since Round Seven, it is high time for the visitors here to begin firing. Still with one of the best defenses in the league, Marko Vrkic’s side need to instead make an impact upfront against a Woden-Weston side that has tightened up their backline in recent weeks.

 

Belconnen United v Canberra Olympic – Live on BarTV Sports from McKellar Park - 5:45pm Saturday

Belconnen United will look to avenge their 4-3 loss to Canberra Olympic in Round Four when they host the ladder leaders at McKellar Park on Saturday night. That thriller saw all seven goals come in the final half an hour, and goalkeeper Finn Jurak finish the game with a dislocated finger following a challenge from Stephen Domenici. United come into this match following their 2-1 win over Canberra FC in Round 12, and a win here would pull them within just six points of Olympic as we hit the business end of the season. With these two sides possessing the equal-best attacks in the league, and United having conceded only one goal more, this is a match that will likely be decided at the back.

For Olympic, this match presents a great chance to pull further clear on the table before they begin their 2017 FFA Cup campaign in Perth after Round 14. Frank Cachia will have a full side available for this outing with no need to rest players, before they meet the FFA COE next Sunday three days before the clash with Sorrento. Rather than a week off like the other sides, Olympic travelled to Griffith last weekend to play a catch up fixture, knocking over the Rhinos 4-2, and will take their undefeated momentum into this match. A win can keep them 12 points clear of Belconnen and at least 10 of Canberra FC depending on how they go, which may be almost unassailable this late in the season.

 

Gungahlin United v Monaro Panthers

Gungahlin United have the chance to put their top four chase back on track on Sunday when they host the Monaro Panthers on Sunday afternoon. United have slipped after great form had them right in the mix earlier in the season and are at only just ahead of the chasing pack heading into this weekend. A 3-1 loss to Tuggeranong last round kept them rooted in fifth spot, one ahead of Tigers and three ahead of Tuggies. Another loss here would be detrimental to their finals hopes, however Marcial Munoz’s side will back themselves against still winless Monaro. While United have scored the least out of any side in the top six, they will face a Panthers backline that has allowed 45 goals so far this season.

For the Panthers, they remain in search of their first win and may hope to find it against a side struggling for momentum. The last fixture between these two ended in a close 2-1 win for United, and Monaro will be aiming to push them all the way again this time out. The Panthers have scored just once in their last three matches however, and only five times all season, meaning they must avoid getting involved in a shootout. While a win here will be an upset, the Panthers are running out of time to get off the mark this season, something that will no doubt provided added motivation in the back of their minds.