Bozza's preview of Sydney v Adelaide - The Daily Telegraph

Sydney FC's Jason Culina (left) will return after a two-year injury lay-off and will take on Adelaide United's in-form Dario Vidosic. Source: The Daily Telegraph

FORMER Socceroo goalkeeper Mark Bosnich gives his rundown on tonight's last versus first Sydney FC v Adelaide United clash:

Sydney FC

Winston Churchill said that when you’re going through hell, you have to keep going through it - that is the mindset we have to see from the sky blues.

Assuming they are up for the fight, then comes the question of tackling the league leaders. However Steve Corica sets up his side, they must avoid like the plague the temptation to become outnumbered in midfield.

Sydney need to match Osama Malik, Dario Vidosic and Marcelo Carrusca man for man at all times. That means one of the attackers - though not Alessandro Del Piero - or one of the fullbacks stepping into midfield as required, to maintain numerical parity.

In defence Pascal Bosschaart as the chief marshal needs to ensure there are never two spare Sydney men at the back, as that means the side are being outnumbered somewhere else on the park.

In attack Yairo Yau can get some joy with his pace against Iain Fyfe and Nigel Boogaard. He needs to play in beween them and look to turn their back four, especially with Del Piero’s distribution.

But equally Sydney must avoid the temptation to become totally reliant on ADP and mix up the route they take forward.

Adelaide United

United must capitalise as quickly as possible on Sydney’s reluctance at times to close down the ball. That means quick passing to the feet of Dario Vidosic and Jeronimo Neumann, with the latter’s runs in between centrebacks and fullbacks a masterclass in off the ball movement.

They can also look to exploit the positional uncertainty of Fabio and Rhyan Grant, Sydney’s two fullbacks - Fabio loves to bomb forward while Grant is still learning his trade - and both can leave gaps to exploit.

They can also target Ivan Necevski, who hasn’t done too much wrong but has still conceded 20 goals in seven games. Some early testing crosses and shots will show how much confidence there is in a keeper who has been afforded precious little protection by his defence.

Watch Osama Malik and Marcelo Carrusca try to control midfield, Malik with his strength and Carrusca with his intelligence and creativity. At their best Adelaide have a superbly mobile midfield, and that’s one of the reasons they have done so well this season.