Which two teams will qualify for A-League decider?

Based on season's form an A-League grand final between Sydney FC and Melbourne Victory might be expected, but can Glory and Roar spoil the party?

Perth need to reverse a horror record against Sydney FC this season if they're to reach the big dance, while Brisbane will have to overcome a goalkeeping crisis in order to topple Victory.

First semi-final: Sydney FC v Perth Glory
Saturday April 29, 7:50pm (AEST) at Allianz Stadium

Four games, four losses.

They are the grim statistics Perth will have to overturn if they're to down Sydney FC, with every game against the Sky Blues (in all competitions) this season ending in defeat.

Kenny Lowe's side surprised many experts with an emphatic elimination finals win at Melbourne City, and the Glory coach says there's no reason to believe the fairytale will end there.

READY TO RUMBLE: 'Fit' Glory's Taggart relishing big game pressure

In reigning Johnny Warren medallist Diego Castro, Glory have a forward at the height of his powers, capable of firing the underdogs into the decider.

However, the Spaniard faces his biggest test against a Sky Blues side that's accumulated more wins, points and clean sheets in the A-League than any side before them, while also conceding fewer goals.

It's little wonder then that record-breaking Sydney go into the match as firm favourites, with playmaker Milos Ninkovic's return making the task even more formidable for Perth.

WHAT THE TEAMS SAY:
Graham Arnold
"Physically, we're in top shape – everyone is 100 per cent fit. The mental freshen-up has probably made them even more ready to go. I expect our best performance over the next ten days."

(On Diego Castro threat): "Like all the good players across the A-League, if he's given space and time, he's a very good player. We'll have a plan not just for him, but the whole Perth Glory team – it's not a one-man show."

Kenny Lowe
"It's not another league game – it's a cup game. There's a lot at stake – before it was three points and you roll to the next game. There's nothing after this if you get beat. You don't roll into another game and you don't go into training next week. It's game over."

(On Sydney's aura): "Everyone's talking about them as being the best team ever and rightly so – they're a super team – but the bottom line is you've got to win something. It's just two teams – they’ve got two arms, two legs, one head. Anything can happen on the day."

Verdict: Fairytales do sometimes come true but unfortunately for Kenny Lowe's side, this is where Glory's ends. Sydney FC have been close to unstoppable this season and if Perth sit back and play on the counter-attack as they did so effectively against Melbourne City, they will be punished by a far more threatening side dressed in sky blue.

Prediction: Sydney 3 - 1 Perth

Sydney FC squad: 1.Andrew REDMAYNE (GK), 4.Alex WILKINSON, 5.Jordy BUIJS, 6.Joshua BRILLANTE, 7.Michael ZULLO, 8.Milos DIMITRIJEVIC, 9.BOBÔ, 10.Milos NINKOVIC, 11.Bernie IBINI, 12.Aaron CALVER, 13.Brandon O'NEILL, 14.Alex BROSQUE (c), 17.David CARNEY, 18.Matt SIMON, 19.George BLACKWOOD, 20.Danny VUKOVIC (GK), 21.Filip HOLOSKO, 23.Rhyan GRANT two to be omitted

Ins: 12.Aaron CALVER (promoted), 19.George BLACKWOOD (promoted)

Outs: Nil

Unavailable: Nil

Perth Glory squad: 3.Marc WARREN, 5.Rhys WILLIAMS, 6.Dino DJULBIC, 7.Joel CHIANESE, 8.Rostyn GRIFFITHS (c), 9.Andy KEOGH, 10.Nebo MARINKOVIC, 11.Richard GARCIA, 13.Nick FEELY (GK), 14.Chris HAROLD, 15.Brandon WILSON, 16.Joe MILLS, 17.Diego CASTRO, 18.Mitch OXBORROW, 19.Josh RISDON, 22.Adam TAGGART, 26.Lucian GOIAN, 33.Liam REDDY (GK) two to be omitted

Ins: 16.Joe MILLS, 18.Mitch OXBORROW

Outs: Nil

Unavailable: 2.Alex GRANT (foot – season), 4.Shane LOWRY (quad – season)

Second semi-final: Melbourne Victory v Brisbane Roar
Sunday April 30, 5pm (AEST) at AAMI Park

Brisbane Roar goalkeeper Jamie Young has been cleared to play in Sunday's A-League semi-final against Melbourne Victory.

Young was in serious doubt after suffering a gruesome cut to his arm during Wednesday night's 3-0 AFC Champions League defeat to Muangthong United in Thailand, which required 26 stitches.

However, the 31-year-old gloveman was passed fit by Roar medical staff on Friday and will line up at AAMI Park.

TROPHY HUNGER: Rojas desperate to lift silverware with Victory

Victory striker Besart Berisha goes head-to-head with the league's other leading goalscorer, Jamie MacLaren, whose equaliser against the Wanderers moved him onto 20 goals for the campaign.

While MacLaren, Thomas Kristensen and Jade North were all rested for the midweek ACL clash, it remains to be seen how much a sapping extra-time win over the Wanderers took out of Brisbane.

Victory are yet to taste defeat over 90 minutes or extra time in a home final, with their only loss in the previous 10 coming via a penalty shoot-out against Sydney FC in the 2010 grand final.

The home side have limped into the finals with two wins in six matches, but have readily admitted that with second spot secured and no chance of toppling Sydney, they took their foot off the pedal at the end.

WHAT THE TEAMS SAY:
Kevin Muscat
"We spoke about the mental side of things, making sure the preparation is right, that we don’t leave it late before we start switching on. It was good because all the things they were coming up with were actions, so it wasn’t just lip service."

(On end of season slump): “Towards the end of the season when our fate was settled, it was a bit indifferent. Every day was a challenge to keep them up, but now it’s exciting times again. It's coming together well, we've got a full compliment of bodies and a few selection headaches which is nice. Without confusing arrogance with confidence, we are confident"

John Aloisi
"People say the extra time would have taken a lot out of the boys but we've got a long week to recover from that, and it mainly is about recovery this week."

(On freak Young injury): "Jamie is still very positive about playing on Sunday, and that's great. "But we'll do what's best for him in terms of his own wellbeing," Roar football director Craig Moore said.

Verdict: Very little has separated the teams this season but with a packed crowd behind them and a week off to refresh, Victory's attacking threat will get them home against a defensively uncertain Roar side.

Prediction: Victory 2 - 1 Roar

Melbourne Victory squad: 2.Jason GERIA, 4.Nick ANSELL, 5.Daniel GEORGIEVSKI, 6.Leigh BROXHAM, 7.Marco ROJAS, 8.Besart BERISHA, 10.James TROISI, 11.Mitch AUSTIN, 14.Fahid BEN KHALFALLAH, 15.Alan BARO, 16.Rashid MAHAZI, 17.James DONACHIE, 19.George HOWARD, 20.Lawrence THOMAS (gk), 21.Carl VALERI (c), 22.Stefan NIGRO, 23.Jai INGHAM, 40.Matt ACTON (gk) two to be omitted

Ins: 5.Daniel GEORGIEVSKI (returns from suspension), 19.George HOWARD (promoted)

Outs: Nil

Unavailable: Nil

Brisbane Roar squad: 3.Luke DEVERE, 5.Corey BROWN, 6.Avram PAPADOPOULOS, 7.Thomas KRISTENSEN, 8.Jacob PEPPER, 9.Jamie MACLAREN, 10.Brett HOLMAN, 11.Tommy OAR, 13.Jade NORTH, 15.ARANA, 17.Matt MCKAY (c), 19.Jack HINGERT, 21.Jamie YOUNG (gk), 22.Thomas BROICH, 26.Nick D'AGOSTINO, 28.Brandon BORRELLO, 29.Joe CALETTI, 43.Tomislav BILIC (gk) two to be omitted

Ins: 15.ARANA (returns from injury), 17.Matt MCKAY (returns from injury), 19.Jack HINGERT (returns from injury), 43.Tomislav BILIC (gk) (promoted)

Outs: 1.Michael THEO (gk) (knee – 4 weeks), 46.Cameron CRESTANI (not selected)

Unavailable: 4.Daniel BOWLES (knee – season)