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A look at the action in round 17 of the A-League season.

PREVIEW OF A-LEAGUE ROUND 17 MATCHES (all times AEDT):

FRIDAY, Jan 31

Sydney FC v Brisbane Roar at Jubilee Stadium, 7.30pm

Head to head: Sydney 15, Roar 15, drawn 13.

Last clash: Round 8, 2019-20, Sydney 5-1, Suncorp Stadium

The all-conquering Sky Blues have a 10-point break atop the ladder and are on an 11-game unbeaten streak - 10 of them wins. The Roar have rallied after a sluggish start to their campaign but there will be no room for errors with their possession-based passing game against the competition's measuring stick.

Key: Roar goalkeeper Jamie Young faces a busy night if his defensive line can't thwart Sydney's dynamic duo, Adam Le Fondre and Kosta Barbarouses, who have 21 goals between them this season.

Tip: Sydney

SATURDAY, Feb 1

Newcastle Jets v Western United at McDonald Jones Stadium, 5pm

Head to head: Jets 1, United 0, drawn 0

Last clash: Round 5, 2019-20, Jets 1-0 at GHMBA Stadium

United's grip on sixth spot weakened when losing 4-3 to Adelaide last weekend - they're now just one point ahead of seventh-placed Brisbane. But the newcomers should be able to gain some precious breathing space with a win against the cellar-dwelling Jets, who continue to be overly reliant on playmaker Dimi Petratos to provide an attacking spark.

Key: United striker Besart Berisha's innate scoring abilities are sure to test the leaky Jets defence which has let in 31 goals this season, the most of any club.

Tip: Western United

Adelaide United v Melbourne City at Coopers Stadium, 7.30pm

Head to head: Adelaide 11, City 11, drawn 8

Last clash: Round 2, 2019-20, City 2-1 at AAMI Park.

Adelaide will be without young attacker Al Hassan Toure (broken foot) for a lengthy period and his goal-poaching talent will be missed against second-placed City, who have lost just one of their past nine clashes against United. The Reds will plot to put the defensive clamps on City striker Jamie Maclaren, who has scored 13 times this season.

Key: Riley McGree is Adelaide's linchpin, with eight goals in 11 league games evidencing his importance. Curb McGree, and City are on the path to an away win.

Tip: City

Perth Glory v Melbourne Victory at HBF Stadium, 9.45pm

Head to head: Glory 17, Victory 17, drawn 10

Last clash: Round 8, 2019-20, Victory 1-0 at AAMI Park

Perth are building ominously, with six wins and a draw from their past seven matches taking them to third spot. And surely it's crunch time for eighth-placed Victory, who are slipping from finals contention - they're lagging five points behind sixth spot. Glory are on the cusp of a club record for clean sheets: they've kept four in a row, but never achieved five on the trot.

Key: Can Victory get past Glory goalkeeper Liam Reddy? And can the visitors nullify Perth attackers Bruno Fornaroli and Diego Casto?

Tip: Glory

SUNDAY, Jan 26

Central Coast Mariners v Western Sydney Wanderers at Central Coast Stadium, 4pm

Head to head: Mariners 6, Wanderers 12, drawn 6

Last clash: Round 1 x, 2019/20, Wanderers 2-1 at Bankwest Stadium

The Wanderers (eighth, 14 points) travel to meet the Mariners (ninth, 13 points) with little to like about the form of either. The Wanderers have an imposing record against Central Coast, losing just three of their 17 clashes, but have just one victory from their past 11 league games. The Mariners' plight is summed up by goalkeeper Mark Birighitti's statistics: he's made 59 saves this season, the most of any 'keeper in the comp.

Key: The Mariners must dim the influence of Western Sydney's Mitch Duke, who has won the most duels (121) in the league this season and scored five times.

Tip: Wanderers

(Bye: Wellington Phoenix)