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Brisbane coach Warren Moon is hopeful back-to-back home games will be the catalyst for his team's stuttering A-League Men's campaign to finally gain momentum.
After a stuttering A-League Men campaign that is so far winless, Brisbane coach Warren Moon hopes back-to-back home games will kick start their season.
Last Saturday's 1-1 draw with Sydney FC means the Roar are last on the ladder after five games with just two points ahead of Wednesday's clash with Perth Glory at Moreton Daily Stadium.
That doesn't tell the full story of their campaign, which has included three same-day trips to Melbourne, just one home game and a month-long break due to COVID-19.
"It's a difficult start. I will keep being positive about this group, about us," Moon told AAP.
"Yes, it's not the start we wanted but we'll go out there on Wednesday with every intention to win the game.
"I'm going to set us up to be positive and attack and if it's not Wednesday, we'll do it on the weekend. And if it's not on the weekend, we'll keep going until we get it right."
After a month on the sidelines, the Roar played back-to-back matches against Sydney last week with an FFA Cup quarter-final on Wednesday, before the ALM draw.
That zero-to-100 schedule has already taken its toll - attacker Luke Ivanovic is sidelined after tearing his quad late in Saturday's game.
Skipper Tom Aldred is still absent after suffering a setback in his recovery from a pre-season knee injury and Moon is also dealing with the varying recovery levels of players returning from bouts of COVID-19.
Glory coach Richie Garcia is also entering the unknown, as his team has not played for seven weeks due to COVID-19 issues.
Garcia has promised star striker Daniel Sturridge will feature off the bench against the Roar.
He has played just one late substitute appearance in his A-League Men career so far.
The former Liverpool and Chelsea forward has been training in Sydney with his family since the start of January.
But the Glory will head east without injured duo Brad Jones and Luke Bodnar.
"He's a good player obviously, had a great career, but our focus is not with Daniel Sturridge," Moon said.
"It's with the team as a whole of Perth Glory. They've got some talent and quality all over the park.
"Yes, that'll be a factor when he comes on but it'll no different to any other player."
