Photo: RNZ
Auckland FC v Melbourne Victory
Kick-off: 6pm Saturday, 24 May
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Auckland FC are one win or draw away from hosting the biggest football event the city has seen in years.
Auckland have the advantage going into the second A-League semi-final against Melbourne Victory and success in front of their home fans will secure a place in the Grand Final.
Finals football comes with nerves and tension but Auckland coach Steve Corica said his side were ready for the pressure of playing at home.
"The boys have worked it out now how intense the finals are but I think our players did rise to the level that we expect of finals and we're going to have to go a little bit better than that this weekend and if we get the job done this weekend the final is even more immense."
As the goal-scorer in the first semi-final, Logan Rogerson said 1-0 is a "niggly scoreline".
"It's over two legs they could get right back into it so we need to be fully focussed and hopefully we can score early and see how the game plays out."
Auckland FC team news
Guillermo May of Auckland FC Photo: AAP / www.photosport.nz
Joint leading goal-scorer Guillermo May has been nursing a knee injury and has been on limited training since the start of the playoffs but the Uruguayan said he was "never" going to miss the return leg of the semi-finals.
Max Mata did not travel for the first semi-final due to a hamstring concern. Corica said he was "touch and go" ahead of the second semi-final.
Corica made clear not much would change tactically in the second semi-final - despite his side being called one-dimensional by Victory player Daniel Arzani after the last game.
But he said the team had learnt from the slow start in the first semi-final.
"We want to start the opposite now, we want to start on the front foot, we're at home we want to take it to them straight away and hopefully get another goal."
Victory have not scored against Auckland in more the 270 minutes of football this season and Corica said Auckland were prepared should Victory finally break the goal drought.
"We've spoken about if that happens, they've got to go back to being positive and a draw is not the worst for us. If we can get a draw we go through but if they score and we go down it's just about getting a goal and moving forward, getting good numbers forward, getting balls into the box like we do and creating problems for them."
Corica expected physicality to be let go by the referees like it was last week.
"I don't think there was any bad fouls it was just physical. It's a tough game sometimes and we'll be up for it and I know they'll be up for it.
Goalkeepers: Alex Paulsen, Michael Woud; Defenders: Hiroki Sakai, Nando Pijnaker, Dan Hall, Tommy Smith, Francis de Vries, Callan Elliot; Midfielders: Louis Verstraete, Cameron Howieson, Luis Toomey, Jake Brimmer, Felipe Gallegos; Attackers: Max Mata, Guillermo May, Jesse Randall, Logan Rogerson, Neyder Moreno, Marlee Francois, Liam Gillion (two to be omitted).
Melbourne Victory team news
Lachlan Jackson of Victory Photo: AAP / Photosport
Victory have been hit by injuries to several of their defensive players.
Captain Roderick Miranda was a late withdrawl from the first semi-final and his replacement in the backline, Brendan Hamill, suffered a season-ending anterior cruciate ligament injury during the game.
Victory coach Arthur Diles said Miranda had returned to training this week but a decision on whether he would travel would be left as late as possible.
Diles said they did not fear the task ahead of them against the Premiers.
"It's our job to try and knock them off their perch, it's backs to the wall for us guaranteed but there is a big party waiting there to be spoiled and we've got to do everything we can to spoil that party."
In a must-win match Diles said he wanted more "purpose and intent higher up the park".
"They're very well organised defensively and they make things really difficult for you.
"We've got to be willing to be patient, not lose structure, stick to the process and eventually you can break them down. They were probably more disciplined and patient than we were last week for 100 percent of the game and we were for 97 percent of the game and in the end that's probably the difference and in these matches it's those small details that make a big difference."
Goalkeepers: Jack Duncan, Daniel Graskoski; Defenders: Lachlan Jackson, Roderick Miranda, Joshua Inserra, Joshua Rawlins, Kasey Bos; Midfielders: Ryan Teague, Zinedine Machach, Jordi Valadon, Fabian Monge, Reno Piscopo; Forwards: Daniel Arzani, Nikolaos Vergos, Bruno Fornaroli, Clerismario Santos Rodrigues, Nishan Velupillay, Jing Reec, Alexander Badolato.
Atmosphere
Auckland FC fans and supporters celebrate a goal by Neyder Moreno. Photo: Andrew Cornaga/www.photosport.nz
A-League players have this week voted Mt Smart Stadium as having the best atmosphere of any stadium in the competition.
In the club's first season, Auckland averaged the highest attendance's across the league (18,101) with another sell-out crowd, the fifth of the season, expected for Saturday's semi-final. Additional seating has been put into the north end of the stadium to accommodate demand.
Auckland FC CEO Nick Becker paid tribute to the club's fans for making the stadium a "fortress".
"They have brought the noise, the atmosphere and created an environment that the team love being a part of. We have the best average attendance in the league, the best fans in the league and now officially the best atmosphere to go with it."
Corica said people stopped him in the streets to thank him for what the club was doing for football in the city.
"That makes me really proud, obviously the boys have done a fantastic job on the field, marketing off the field as well, but they've really got behind us, the supporters, from the moment we kicked off. The Port's been amazing it's growing all the time and they're going to bring the noise and that's what we want.
"All of Auckland have got right behind us and we appreciate it ... that's what footballers are all about playing in front of big crowds and we've been lucky enough to play in front of sell-out crowds so it is amazing."
Result
The A-League winners trophy Photo: David Woodley
To reach the Grand Final, Auckland can win or draw.
Victory must win by two goals.
If the aggregate goals are the same between both teams at full time the game will go to extra time.
Should the game need to go to penalties, both sides said they had been preparing.
Auckland had not taken a penalty all season, something which May said was "strange" and Corica said he hoped "we won't have to" take penalties to decide the outcome.
In the other semi-final, Melbourne City have a three goal advantage over Western United ahead of the second leg of the tie and are favourites to move on to next week's showpiece event.
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