Words: Steve Pitman & Michael Flynn
Image: Getty Images

Brisbane Strikers coach Kevin A’herne-Evans rates his side’s coming PlayStation 4 NPL Finals Series Semi-Final clash with Sydney United 58 as the team’s biggest challenge of 2016.

Strikers travel to Sydney to face the PlayStation 4 NSW Premiers on Sunday – with the winner booking their place in the competition’s Final against the winners of Perth SC v Edgeworth FC.

The Queensland Premiers haven’t been short of big matches this season which included a series of do-or-die Westfield FFA Cup ties that culminated against Hyundai A-League powerhouse Melbourne City.

However, A’herne-Evans believes his side’s next hurdle looms as the toughest of the lot.

“When you come up against a Sydney United 58 FC, especially away from home, I don’t know if it gets much bigger than that,” he explained.

“I suppose there’s only them and South Melbourne who are in the same bracket. You could say that it is the biggest game of our season, for sure.”

For fans across Australia, the PlayStation 4 NPL Finals Series raises the perpetual argument as to which Member Federation competition is the strongest.

The highly analytical A’herne-Evans said his research suggested that at present the Sydney-siders are setting the bar nationally.

“To be honest, in all of my time analysing opposition teams at our level I haven’t enjoyed analysing any as much as I have Sydney United 58,” he said.

“What I have been able to watch this year of the Victorian league, our league and the New South Wales league - it sits comfortably with me being able to say that this year the New South Wales NPL is the strongest nationwide.”

“The level of the games they play against Blacktown City, against Bonnyrigg, against Manly – they are top, top quality games with a number of players that have yo-yoed in between A-League and state league clubs and it’s honestly been a real joy to watch”.

While United’s structures and personnel - who include former Hyundai A-League players Eddy Bosnar, Glen Trifiro, Panny Nikas, Peter Triantis and Chris Payne - will clearly offer challenges across the pitch, A’herne-Evans also cited the artificial surface at Edensor Park as another crucial factor in the contest.

“We’ve trained this week on a synthetic field in preparation for it and a lot of the boys have been in an environment before where they’ve trained or played on synthetic fields,” he explained.

“Obviously, there’s a difference in the run of the ball and it can find out people with an average touch quite quickly.”

“In saying that, we’re a technical team so a nice surface is what we beg for every time we play,” he concluded.

A win for Strikers will see them become the first Queensland club to play in the PlayStation 4 NPL Finals Series Final.

PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues Finals Series – Semi Final

Sydney United 58 FC v Brisbane Strikers FC
Sunday, September 25 | 2:30PM
Sydney United Sports Centre, Sydney

Watch via LIVE STREAM at www.nationalpremierleagues.com.au or via the YouTube app on your PlayStation 4