Brisbane Roar are determined to avoid leaving New Zealand with regrets for the second time in less than a month, and are confident they can cause problems for Auckland FC on Sunday.
The Roar have already made the trans-Tasman journey once this season, but returned home with nothing to show for their efforts after being beaten 2-1 by Wellington Phoenix at Sky Stadium on October 26.
Brisbane led 1-0 before the Phoenix fought back to score two second-half goals, including a stoppage-time winner from former Roar winger Carlo Armiento.
The loss – Brisbane’s only defeat this season – is still a sore point for Roar coach Michael Valkanis and his team.
“I was trying to forget the three points I missed out on there,” Valkanis said.
“It’s something that we think about and we talk about because we know we should have gone away with three points from there.
“We were ready for that fight as well in Wellington, and for 75 minutes we were truly there.”
The Roar will almost certainly need a 90-minute performance at Go Media Stadium this weekend to have any hope of beating Auckland, last season’s Premier’s Plate winners.
“We’re playing one of the best teams in the competition, and a team that probably should have been in the grand final last season,” Valkanis said.
“The boys are really up for it. It is a nice challenge, a good test early on, but the test and the challenge is more about us, and where we’re at, and where we want to get to.”
Brisbane will again be without English striker Chris Long, who continues to nurse a hamstring problem.
Roar left-back James McGarry will link with his teammates im Auckland following his commitments with the New Zealand national team during the FIFA international window.
“He’s a professional, and he’ll be up for it,” Valkanis said of the former Phoenix, Jets and Mariners defender.
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