Melbourne Victory makes the trip to North Geelong Warriors looking to continue its winning run in the NPL2 West on Saturday.
Victory extended its run of wins to four by beating Langwarrin 3-0 in Round 15.
It sits fifth on the table after its latest success, but is now just five points off top spot.
Fresh from signing contracts with the club, Nicholas Sette and Birkan Kirdar were on the scoresheet against Langwarrin.
Sette, 18, scored a fine brace to take his tally to four this season, while Kirdar, 16, has now netted a team-high six in 2018.
During its four-match winning streak, Victory has struck 13 times, making it the top-scoring team in the NPL2 West this campaign.
North Geelong is fourth on the table – a point clear of Victory – ahead of the clash at Elcho Park.
The Warriors claimed a 1-0 win over Victory when the teams met in the opening round of the season.
Head coach Gareth Naven
“I think the group are really aware of what they’re here for in regards to developing as players and currently Birkan and Sette have gotten agreements, but it’s important to recognise that all our players are working as hard or even harder than those boys as well.
“We have a group of people who are in a competition which is very combative and everyone’s contribution is very valuable and the next stage for Birkan and Sette is a real tough test, a real tough assignment and the players understand that as well. If they don’t, they’ll soon be reminded when they move forward.
“It’s really important that players that are with the group need to be reminded that it’s important that you keep working hard to develop your game and the team’s game. In regards to our competition, being at the halfway mark, we’ve accomplished some things in regards to the importance of our effort, defending, attacking, all those sorts of things and there are things that we want to continue to get better at so that’s going to be a massive focus for the whole group, as well as Birkan and Sette as well.”
This week
NPL2 West 2018 Round 16
North Geelong Warriors v Melbourne Victory
Saturday, June 9, 3.00pm AEST
Elcho Park, Geelong
U20 NPL2 West 2018 Round 16
North Geelong Warriors v Melbourne Victory
Saturday, June 9, 12.45pm AEST
Elcho Park, Geelong
U18 NPL West 2018 Round 15
Melbourne Victory v Melbourne Knights
Sunday, June 10, 10.45am AEST
Partridge Street Reserve, Melbourne
U15 NPL West 2018 Round 15
Melbourne Victory v Melbourne Knights
Sunday, June 10, 9.00am AEST
Partridge Street Reserve, Melbourne
Last week
NPL2 West: Victory 3 (Sette 7’/47′, Kirdar 61′) Langwarrin 0
U20 NPL2 West: Victory 1 (Diaz 29′) Langwarrin 0
U18 NPL West: Avondale 1 Victory 1 (Moukachar 90′)
U15 NPL West: Avondale 2 Victory 1 (Siccita 63′)
