Adelaide United looking to claim another big scalp in Brisbane Roar

ADELAIDE United skipper Eugene Galekovic believes the Reds have enough firepower to knock another A-League pole sitter off the perch.

Isais (United #8) and Dimitri Petratos (Roar # 23) - Brisbane Roar v Adelaide United at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane. Pic Mark Cranitch.

ADELAIDE United skipper Eugene Galekovic believes the Reds have enough firepower to knock another A-League pole sitter off the perch.

Adelaide faces table-topping Brisbane Roar at Suncorp Stadium tonight on the back of an unbeaten seven-game run knowing a win will see John Aloisi’s men probably slide off the top by the time the round is complete on Australia Day.

Galekovic believes the Reds’ 0-0 draw with previous table- topper Western Sydney at Parramatta on New Year’s Day, has given Adelaide confidence to take on Roar without fear after Wanderers ended round 13 sliding into second spot.

“They are the top team and we can make a statement by beating the top team,” Galekovic said. “We knocked Western Sydney off top spot with a draw. We’ve just got to keep the momentum going. There are no excuses, we’ll play the same way and we know they’ll press high.

“We’ll try to break their defensive lines and there will be a lot of attacking football and hopefully a lot of goals go our way.”

Galekovic makes a return to the starting XI after he was rested for Adelaide’s 3-1 win over Central Coast Mariners at Coopers Stadium last week.

“It was just groin tightness, it was a precautionary measure,’’ Galekovic said.

“In the end it was a good decision I made because in the end we won the game, if it happened earlier (last week) I would have been fit to play but I decided to rest.”

Galekovic believes it’s a good time to play Roar after the side was belted 4-0 by Melbourne Victory last weekend.

Roar was missing Olyroos Jamie Maclaren and Brandon Borello for that clash.

The prolific goal scorers are unavailable for tonight’s match after the Olyroos were bundled out of the Rio Olympics when they failed to get past the group stage in Qatar after a scoreless draw with Jordan Thursday.

With left back Shane Stefanutto suspended and Carlos Solorzano injured, Roar will field a depleted outfit which still has firepower if German playmaker Thomas Broich is allowed to roam wild.

Adelaide has its woes, given Michael Marrone and Jimmy Jeggo must serve one match bans after picking up their fifth cautions of the season against the Mariners.

Galekovic is confident that Jordan Elsey, who returns from suspension, will do a job in defence to cover for Marrone. George Mells is likely to fill the Jeggo void, partnering Reds gun Marcelo Carrusca in midfield.

And Galekovic believes Adelaide training at its Elizabeth training centre for the entire week due to Hindmarsh’s pitch underdoing rejuvenation after field looked to be well below its usual high standard last weekend is a good thing.

Galekovic says the hotter conditions at Elizabeth, is welcome as the Reds prepare for the 34C and 50 per cent humidity in Brisbane tonight.

“The humidity … we know what to expect the game is at night and it will be a bit cooler but we’re well prepared for it,’’ Galekovic said.

Originally published as Adelaide United looking to claim another big scalp in Brisbane Roar