Adelaide United vs. Brisbane Roar FC

ADELAIDE UNITED Galekovic Malik, Fyfe, Golec, Cassio Barker-Daish, Watson, Vidosic Ferreira, Juric, Ramsay

BRISBANE ROAR Theo Hingert, North, Donachie, Stefanutto Franjic, Brattan, Lustica Nichols, Berisha, Broich

Sunday marks a return to finals football for Adelaide United after a year-long absence, while Brisbane Roar will be looking to take their first step in defending their A-League crown at Hindmarsh Stadium. The second elimination final will see Adelaide return to the finals fold on home soil after finishing fourth on the table, showing a vast improvement following their dismal ninth-place finish last season.
Despite a stronger 2012-13 campaign, the Reds have struggled to maintain their impressive performances, winning three of their last 13 matches since the turn of the New Year.
Only one of those wins has come in their last seven games, as Adelaide have limped towards the finals with their last victory coming against lowly Melbourne Heart in early-March.
Central defender Nigel Boogaard will return from suspension, while left-back Cassio and Argentine winger Marcelo Carrusca have recovered from injuries respectively.
Brisbane Roar will be in a confident mood, having dispatched of Sydney 3-1 to secure an A-League finals spot, and come into the finals with two straight wins.
But they have not yet won three consecutive games this campaign, which is something they will need to do in order to make it to semi-finals.
Although the Roar's season got off to a shaky start, they have only been defeated once in the past seven matches, giving them the chance to defend their A-League championship starting with Adelaide on Sunday.
Brisbane have also enjoyed a good record of late at Hindmarsh Stadium, winning their previous two encounters against the Reds this season, and unbeaten against them in four.
Besart Berisha's scoring record is also worth noting, having scored five goals in his last six appearances against United - his second highest scoring tally against another A-League club.
The back-to-back grand-final winners have a virtually full- strength squad to choose from, with only long-term injury victim Matt Smith sidelined by a hip injury.
Regardless of Adelaide’s higher finish, Brisbane have continued to get the better of them this term, which will make the Roar favourites to progress to the next round on Sunday.