A host of Caltex Socceroos will this weekend be out to continue to press their claims for a spot in Bert van Marwijk’s squad for next month’s friendlies against Colombia and Norway.
From the FA Cup in England to league action right across Europe, there’s a stack of Aussies in action over the next couple of days.
Here’s a look at which Aussies are in action in Europe this weekend.
BIG CHALLENGE FOR AUSSIES IN FA CUP
Jackson Irvine could get an early taste of Australia’s first FIFA World Cup match against France when his Hull City travels to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea and their French midfielder N’Golo Kante.
It looms as a huge test for Irvine’s Tigers, who are currently just above the drop zone in the Championship and the Caltex Socceroos midfielder will need to be at the top of his game if his club is to replicate their 2014 run to the final.
Aaron Mooy’s gruesome knee injury is set to keep him out of Huddersfield’s clash with Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United, while Mat Ryan’s Brighton will be expecting to progress when they host League Two battlers Coventry City.
Should the Seagulls win at the AMEX Stadium, they’ll advance to the FA Cup quarters for the first time since 1979.
Callum Elder’s Wigan takes on runaway EPL leaders Manchester City on Tuesday morning (AEDT).
CAHILL HOPING FOR MORE CHAMPIONSHIP ACTION
After a short cameo for Millwall last weekend, Tim Cahill will be after more action as the Lions travel to face lowly Birmingham City in the Championship.
Left-back James Meredith has been a regular for Millwall all season and should again be in Neil Harris’ starting XI at St Andrews.
Elsewhere in the Championship, Caltex Socceroos skipper Mile Jedinak and Aston Villa will be chasing an eighth-straight win when they take on fellow promotion candidates Fulham at Craven Cottage.
Massimo Luongo will be hoping to return as QPR face Bolton, while Bailey Wright’s Bristol City take on Leeds United looking to consolidate their spot in the top six.
REST OF EUROPE
In Germany, Matthew Leckie’s Hertha Berlin will be out to make it back-to-back wins in the Bundesliga when they host struggling Mainz.
Robbie Kruse and his Bochum side head to Heidenheim in the 2.Bundesliga, while Brandon Borrello will hope to continue his goalscoring form as his Kaiserslautern take on Sandhausen.
There could be three Aussies in action in the Scottish Premiership.
Jamie Maclaren is set to feature for Hibernian, who host high-flying Aberdeen, while Tom Rogic’s Celtic take on St Johnstone.
And Ryan Edwards should again be in Partick Thistle’s starting side when they face off against Dundee.
In the Eredivisie, fresh from scoring his first goal of the season last time out, Kenneth Dougall will be a key figure for Sparta Rotterdam for their clash at FC Twente.
Craig Goodwin could also feature for bottom-placed Sparta, who need a win to boost their hopes of avoiding relegation.
Gloveman Brad Jones’ Feyenoord host Heracles, while fellow keeper Mark Birighitti and his NAC Breda take on AZ Alkmaar.
Elsewhere, another shot-stopper in Danny Vukovic will have to be at the top of his game as his Genk go up against top-of-the-table Club Brugge in the Belgian First Division.
Aziz Behich will hope his Bursaspor side can beat Yeni Malaytspor to push them into the top half of the Turkish Süper Lig, while Tomi Juric will hope to keep up his good form for Luzern in their match-up with third-placed FC Zurich in the Swiss Super League.
Further afield, Nikita Rukavytsya’s Maccabi Haifa will hope to build upon last week’s 4-0 win in this week’s match with Bani Sakhnin in the Israeli League, while Awer Mabil (Pacos de Ferreira v Vitoria Setubal) and James Jeggo (Sturm Graz v Rapid Wien) should be in action in Portugal and Austria respectively.
