Adelaide United and Newcastle Jets will play the first Hyundai A-League game in Bathurst on Wednesday, a fixture that will effectively cancel out the Reds' home advantage in the crucial clash.
Adelaide United and Newcastle Jets will play the first Hyundai A-League game in Bathurst on Wednesday, a fixture that will effectively cancel out the Reds' home advantage in the crucial clash.
As part of the Hyundai A-League's regional fixtures Adelaide United will head to Carrington Park with the sides separated by just one point as they bid to keep touch with the top six.
That will be music to Newcastle's ears given the Jets have won just two times in 12 visits to Adelaide's Hindmarsh Stadium.
Adelaide, touted as title contenders prior to the season, have looked a reinvigorated force since John Kosmina's took over in late December after an uninspiring start to the campaign.
Two wins, three draws and a spirited 3-2 loss to away to leaders Central Coast last week, make impressive reading for Kosmina, who led the club to consecutive grand finals in 2006-07 and 2008-09.
Striker Sergio van Dijk appears to have profited from Kosmina's return the most with four goals in his past five matches.
And if Adelaide continue in the same manner then Sydney FC and Melbourne Victory will soon be looking over their shoulders, if they aren't already.
The sixth-placed Sky Blues hold a four point buffer over Adelaide but the Reds have a game in hand on Sydney. As do Melbourne Victory, who are level with Adelaide on 19 points.
Newcastle's form slump however, contrasts vastly to the Reds' upturn in form.
Picking up just two points on the road all season hasn't helped their cause, but more alarmingly, their home form, which was holding their season by a thread, has deserted them recently.
A fortress earlier in the campaign, Ausgrid Stadium hasn't provided the points bounty it once did and with just one win in their past four home clashes, Newcastle need an impetus sooner rather than later before their season really tapers away.
With this clash to be played on neutral soil, the outcome is anyone's guess but with Adelaide's scoring form and Newcastle's inconsistency, the Reds appear the most likely to be knocking on the door of the top six at the conclusion of this round.
If the Jets do score it will be the club's 200th goal in the league.