Perth and Adelaide meet with contrasting rhythms: one side has had time to reset its first pass, while the other has kept playing and travelling. Their midfield exchanges should decide whether the first forward ball becomes a clean chance or a turnover. Zwolle and Den Haag bring a different contest, with both teams able to create another attack after the first score. The next ball after a clearance may matter more than the opening spell of possession.
Perth's Freney is back in the official squad after missing Brisbane; he supplied Lawrence when he last started against Macarthur. Scicluna can help him find Lawrence, Kucharski or Jacobsz beyond Adelaide's first pressure. Adelaide's Goodwin, Muñiz and Burkitt played in its latest match and can still work the far side, while its listed absences were largely already present in those recent games. Perth's longer recovery and home pressing give it a route to collect Adelaide's first loose pass and build another box contact. That's why I'm siding with Perth.
Zwolle can release Mbayo and Oosting after Den Haag's press, while Den Haag have Rottier, Van Mieghem and Thomas to continue an attack after the first shot. Thomas produced two effective contacts against Heerenveen and scored again in the cup despite the listed forward absences; Zwolle have also shown an answer after conceding. Krastev and Floranus remain out for Zwolle, and Bárány and Reischl were absent from Den Haag's latest cup match, so the current replacement roles matter. Both sides have shown a way from an initial goal to another clean entry. I'm backing a match with repeated scoring.
