A-League Men strugglers Perth Glory have set their sights on securing back-to-back wins when they take on defending champions Central Coast.
The New Year's Eve match will be Glory coach Alen Stajcic's first meeting with his former club since his departure in 2021 for the Philippines women's national team.
Making the cross-country flight to Central Coast Stadium for a Sunday night clash, the 11th-placed Glory are bent on closing out their year with one more win on the board.
Stajcic's charges are riding high after their come-from-behind 3-2 win against Macarthur FC and it will be their first back-to-back wins since January should they come away with maximum points against the Mariners.
"The result is obviously important. Any win is, especially when you haven't had as many as you like," Stajcic said on Friday about the Macarthur victory.
"More importantly, the manner of the win was important to give that belief - to know that we can come from behind and to know that we can play more consistent football over a 90-minute period and produce a result with it.
"If we can keep building like that, there's no doubt that there's more improvement in results for us to come."
Perth have notched two wins, two draws and five losses in the opening nine rounds.
Their opponents are faring little better, with the ninth-placed Mariners registering three wins, two draws and four losses.
The last time the sides met in round three Glory emerged with their first win of the season, while the Mariners were condemned to three straight defeats.
And it was not without controversy.
Central Coast forward Angel Torres had been sent off for slapping Jacob Muir on the back of the head for attempting to block his running path during the 2-0 win at HBF Park.
Still, Stajcic is wary of taking too much confidence out of their previous win.
"You just don't know what's gonna happen on the day - depends on how both teams come out," he said.
"They've had a good five-week stretch now where they were on the bottom of the ladder and moved themselves to the edge of the six …. but that doesn't mean that you win the next game.
"We're coming off a win as well, so I expect a tough game."
