Words: Steve Pitman
Image: Getty Images

Brisbane Strikers captain Greg King is confident his side can reach the Quarter Finals of the Westfield FFA Cup.

Strikers face former National Soccer League rivals Adelaide City at Marden Sports Complex in the South Australian capital tomorrow night in the Westfield FFA Cup Round of 16.

City, who like Strikers were Champions in the former national competition, provided one of the most memorable moments of the previous round when they defeated Hyundai A-League heavyweights Western Sydney Wanderers 1-0 at the same venue.

However, King said Strikers have studied their opponents and believe they are in the right frame of mind for the winner-takes-all cup tie.

“Obviously we are very respectful of Adelaide City and understand the performance that they’ve had against Western Sydney,” King explained.

“We go down there on a road which is never easy, as has been noticeable with all the (FFA Cup) games – the majority of wins have come from the home team, so that’s against us as well,” he added.

“But we go down very confident, knowing that if we play to the best of our ability we’ll be more than a shot at winning”.

He further explained that his side are tactically prepared for the challenge of the club affectionately known as the Zebras in a nod to the their famous black and white kit.

“Chay (Hews) obviously has a few contacts that he’s tried to use to the best of his ability to get some information, so that we can come up with a bit of a plan as to how we want to play,” King said.

“In saying that, these games are cup ties.  It’s all about how you go into the game and about how you perform and we don’t want to detract too much away from what we want to do.”

“But it’s still important to know how they play and I think we’ve got enough information now from what Chay’s given us to go in with a plan and try to execute that plan.”

King said the Strikers felt the real threat might come from Adelaide City’s flanks where, he said, they also had pace to burn.

With the exception of cup-tied defenders Cameron Draper and Andy Thomson and injured fullback Brad Savage, Strikers are expected to a field a side similar to that which saw out the final month of the NPL Queensland season.

King explained that should Strikers lose to City it will be last game for coach Hews, who has previously announced he will step down from the role at the end of the season.

“Chay will obviously be the last guy to bring it up, and we probably haven’t got close enough to the game to recognize that,” King said.

“But as the game gets closer, and even before kick-off, I’m sure one or two things might be said from people like Jonti (Richter) or myself that this is about extending Chay’s run as long as possible and giving him the send-off that he deserves.”

Kick-off between Strikers and City scheduled for 7:00pm local time (7:00pm AEST)

Fox Sports will cross to the game during their live coverage of the Tuggeranong United v Melbourne Victory match.