Football West News

Perth SC and Sorrento will warm-up for next week’s high-profile Westfield FFA Cup clashes with an important PS4 NPLWA match at Dorrien Gardens on Friday night.

And both coaches - Perth’s Taki Nicolaidis and Sorrento’s Jamie Harnwell - will urge their players to fully focus on the NPL clash despite the significance of the looming FFA Cup matches.

Nicolaidis said despite the building excitement around his side’s clash with Rockdale City Suns in Sydney on Wednesday, the players were acutely aware of the need to get maximum points against Sorrento.

“People have asked if I’m going to rest players or try something different (against Sorrento) and my answer is no,” Nicolaidis said.

“We’ve reset our goals for the remainder of the year and obviously one of them is to finish as high in the league as we can – hopefully second.

“We need to close that six-point gap on (second-placed Floreat) Athena and we can’t afford to drop points against Sorrento this week.”

The motivation for Sorrento is clear – a win would take them above third-placed Perth.

Like Nicolaidis, Harnwell is preparing to play his strongest side in pursuit of maximum points and the perfect preparation for Wednesday’s FFA Cup clash against A-League heavyweight Sydney FC at nib Stadium.

“We’ll try to put out the strongest team we can,” Harnwell said. “This should be a good dress rehearsal for what we’re going to try to do against Sydney.

“The three points is important for us.”

Harnwell said a good performance against Perth would also give his players confidence heading into their game against last season’s beaten A-League grand finalists.

While Perth will be without James Marocchi, who suffered a deep cut after crashing into a goal post, there are question marks over a few Sorrento players.

Brad McDonald should be fit to resume from a hip injury, while Jack Salter is likely to play despite a toe problem.

Harnwell was less confident in the availability of Daryl Platten, who injured an ankle in last weekend’s win over Inglewood United.

Nicolaidis is likely to make use of defender Aleks Susnjar for the first time following his arrival at the club. The former Perth junior has been playing in the Lithuanian Premier League and has also been involved in Europa Cup qualifiers.

FIXTURES
Friday, July 31
Perth SC v Sorrento (Dorrien Gardens, 7.30pm)
Saturday, August 1
Armadale v Subiaco (Alfred Skeet Reserve, 3pm)
Cockburn City v Stirling Lions (Dalmatinac Park, 3pm)
ECU Joondalup v Floreat Athena (ECU Football Stadium, 3pm)
Bayswater City v Balcatta (Frank Drago Reserve, 3pm)
Inglewood United v Perth Glory (Inglewood Stadium, 3pm)