Hosts the Sharks showed their Cup credentials in 2014 while South are desperate to demonstrate why they belong on the big stage. Expect a ripper feature game to kick off Fox Sports' coverage of the Westfield FFA Cup 2015.
MATCH DETAILS
Palm Beach Sharks v South Melbourne FC
Wednesday, 29 July 2015
Cbus Super Stadium, Robina (QLD)
Kick-off: 7.30pm local (7:30pm AEST)
Referee: Alex King
Assistant Referee 1: Andrew Lindsay
Assistant Referee 2: Joseph Lee
Fourth Official: James Sherry
Tickets: Click here for ticketing details
TV broadcast: 7.00pm (AEST) Live and exclusive on FOX SPORTS 505
Join the conversation on Twitter using the hash-tag #PBSvSOM
Palm Beach Sharks squad: 1.Shane VIITAKANGAS (gk), 2.Matthew JONES, 3.Ben LITFIN, 4.John COSTELLO, 5.Martin VAZQUEZ, 6.Lochlan REUS, 7.Justyn McKAY, 8.Florian MATK, 9.Rees DUNCAN, 10.Joshua WALLEN, 11.Nikola MIRKOVIC, 12.Nikki FELIZATTO, 13.Joshua RIIS, 14.Ethan GRIMLEY, 15.Eoghan MURPHY, 17.Kristian REES, 18.Roman HOFMANN, 19.Tim JACKSON, 20.Andrew PURNELL-WEBB
South Melbourne FC squad: 1.Nikola ROGANOVIC (gk), 2.Tim MALA, 3.Kristian KONSTANTINIDIS, 4.Michael EAGAR, 5.Luke ADAMS, 6.Thomas LAKIC, 7.Nicholas EPIFANO, 8.Mathew THEODORE, 9.Milos LUJIC, 10.David STIRTON, 11.Bradley NORTON, 12.Iqbal JAWADI, 13.Dane MILOVANOVIC, 15.Cody MARTINDALE, 16.Andrew BEVIN, 19.Massimo PESCE, 20.Nicholas MORTON, 21.Jake BARKER-DAISH, 22.Fraser MACLAREN (gk), 23.Andy KECOJEVIC, 27.Leigh MINOPOULOS, 77.Stephen HATZIKOSTAS
BLUFFER’S GUIDE
Last season's FFA Cup sensations the Sharks are back at the impressive Cbus for a super opening night Fox Sports feature match on Match Day 1. In their way is former national powerhouse South Melbourne.
The Victorian club is absolutely desperate to launch an FFA Cup charge that will propel them back onto the national stage.
But the Sharks have one of the most admired coaches at PS4 NPL level in Grae Piddock, and he'll have his side superbly prepared for whatever Chris Taylor's men might have planned.
This should be a rollicking Queensland v Victoria meeting to kick off broadcast coverage of the 2015 Westfield FFA Cup.
WHAT THEY SAY
Justyn McKay (Palm Beach captain)
"Our success is based on being well-structured and organised. With Kristian [Rees] at the back we have a good foundation because he organises everything so we’re hard to break down.
“But we have a lot of energy with our young players and good on the counter. We’re not the side that’ll pass it for fun because we don’t have those sorts of players but we’ll go from back to front quickly. We play to our strengths. And we’re better when we are underdogs.”
Chris Taylor (South Melbourne coach): "Our fans have been desperate to get back onto the national stage and in an environment that we deserve,” he said.
“South Melbourne, its history and the brand are quite significant in Australian football, so it’s great to have it once again on a national level.
“The club, fans, volunteers, staff and board are extremely pleased, but also aware that there is plenty of hard work ahead.”
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
PALM BEACH SHARKS
League: PS4 NPL Queensland
Current ladder position: 7th – won 7 / drawn 3 / lost 5
Latest result: Cruised to a 5-1 home win over lowly South West Queensland Thunder on Saturday night.
Who to watch out for: Ethan Grimley
SOUTH MELBOURNE
League: PS4 NPL Victoria
Current ladder position: 3rd – won 14 / drawn 4 / lost 4
Latest result: Held to a 0-0 draw away to fifth-placed Pascoe Vale on Saturday night.
Who to watch out for: Milos Lujic
