Scoring streaks, club records and a bizarre trend are all on the line in Round 3 of the Hyundai A-League 2018/19 Season.
Sydney FC travel to Melbourne City on Friday night with a star striker looking to help extend a one-sided rivalry, while there are plenty of other intriguing sub-plots worth being aware of over the weekend.
Read on as we dissect the facts and figures you need to know ahead of Hyundai A-League Round 3.
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PREVIEW: Melbourne City v Sydney FC
Le Fondre looks to maintain 100 per cent record
It may have been a far from perfect FFA Cup Final for Sydney FC on Tuesday night, but it did see Adam Le Fondre extend his record of scoring in every match for his new club.
The 31-year-old fired home emphatically from the spot, adding to scoring in each of the opening two rounds of the Hyundai A-League 2018/19 Season.
Le Fondre also scored in Sydney FC's victories in the FFA Cup Quarter Final and Semi Final stage, meaning he has netted in all five competitive appearances for the Sky Blues.
Recent head-to-head records suggest the striker should have chances to extend that run, with the Sky Blues winning their last five meetings with Friday night’s hosts Melbourne City, scoring three or more goals on four of those occasions.
Le Fondre is adding to a remarkable top-tier record, netting 12 times despite making just 11 starts during his solitary campaign in the English Premier League with Reading.
History beckons for Krishna and Durante
If some thought the prospect of becoming Wellington Phoenix’s all-time leading goalscorer would prove as a distraction to Roy Krishna at the start of the Hyundai A-League 2018/19 campaign, then they were very wrong.
PREVIEW: Wellington Phoenix v Western Sydney Wanderers
The 31-year-old wasted little time in pulling level with Paul Ifill on 33 goals by netting in the Nix’s opening 2-1 win over Newcastle Jets and, after a hard-fought stalemate at Brisbane Roar, returns to the Westpac Stadium with the outright record in his sights.
Meanwhile, 36-year-old Andrew Durante simply needs to step on the pitch to reach his personal milestone of making 250 appearances for the club.
The murmurs of excitement around Wellington Phoenix pre-season have turned into outspoken optimism as they enjoy remaining unbeaten after two games for the first time since 2012/13.
However, Western Sydney Wanderers represent an unfavourable foe, with the New Zealand-based outfit collecting just two points from their last seven meetings.
Struggling Grand Finalists hunt for hangover remedy
If Melbourne Victory are suffering a Hyundai A-League 2018 Grand Final hangover then they will not find much sympathy on Saturday night against the team they beat in last season's decider, Newcastle Jets.
PREVIEW: Newcastle Jets v Melbourne Victory
The Grand Final winners have lost their first two matches of the campaign for the first time since the then-reigning Champions started the 2014/15 season with four successive defeats.
Ernie Merrick’s men will also be desperate to put a record of failing to score in three of their last four home games behind them, while they have won just two of their last seven meetings with Victory.
Goals galore on the cards at the nib Stadium, McKay eyes 250th game
If Perth Glory fans have got a taste for goals after their 3-2 win over Melbourne Victory then they are supplied with the right opponents to indulge on Saturday evening.
They’ve shared 10 goals with Brisbane Roar in their last two meetings, although the Roar came out on top 3-2 in both clashes last season.
PREVIEW: Perth Glory v Brisbane Roar
The trend runs further back, with an average of 4.5 goals scored between the two sides during their last eight meetings, including a 6-3 Glory win in 2016.
The visiting fans will certainly be happy to witness a high-scoring affair, having seen their side entrenched in stalemates in both of their opening fixtures.
The match could also see Brisbane Roar FC veteran Matt McKay make his 250th Hyundai A-League appearance.
Reds to flop or flourish after Cup win?
The big question is whether Adelaide United will be flooded with confidence or depleted of concentration when they visit the Central Coast Mariners on Sunday evening as FFA Cup Final 2018 winners.
The history of the competition's winners' form certainly throws up some intriguing trends, but offers few answers to the travelling fans.
Sydney FC embarked on a rampant run after winning last year’s FFA Cup Final in extra time, claiming maximum points in their next six fixtures.
PREVIEW: Central Coast Mariners v Adelaide United
However, Melbourne City slumped to five successive losses after their FFA Cup Final 2016 triumph, while Melbourne Victory won three and then lost four in 2015.
To make the picture even more blurry, Adelaide's results read win, loss, win, loss following their inaugural success.
The one thing that does appear to be guaranteed is goals, with both teams scoring in the last five meetings on the Mariners’ turf, while the hosts have conceded an average of three goals per game over their last eight fixtures.
Central Coast defender Jack Clisby could bring up his 100th Hyundai A-League appearance in this fixture, too.
HYUNDAI A-LEAGUE MILESTONES THAT COULD FALL THIS WEEKEND
- Andrew Durante is close to 250 games for Wellington Phoenix - Currently on 249
- Matt McKay is close to 250 games - Currently on 249
- Jack Clisby is close to 100 games - Currently on 99
- Mitch Austin is close to 50 games - Currently on 49
- Roy Krishna is close to breaking the all-time goal record for Wellington Phoenix (Paul Ifill - 33) - Currently on 33
