Round 6 of the NPL Victoria season starts with last year’s Preliminary Final losers facing off under the lights at Genis Steel Stadium.
There will be an extra level of intensity around the game tonight, as Preston Lions coach Zoran Markovski and the four players he brought over with him from Avondale FC during the off-season will be facing off against their former club for the first time in 2026.
All the focus will be on Ayden Brice, Stefan Zinni and Cian Cuba, who were all instrumental parts of Avondale's premiership-winning side last year, but have since switched allegiances.
Preston started the season in red-hot form, winning the first three, but come into this game without a win in the last two games after dropping points at home to Heidelberg and George Cross.
They did show positives against George Cross and were only denied the three points due to a first-half mistake from former Avondale captain Brice and Georgie's 'keeper Christian Siciliano brilliance.
Avondale, on the other hand, had a sluggish start to the season with no points or goals after two games. But the Avengers head into this game in great form, having won three on the bounce.
The latest of these wins came at home against Dandenong City. Avondale went down 1-0 after 60 minutes, but a stunning Blake Carpenter free kick 10 minutes later sparked a late comeback that ended in a 4-1 demolition of the visitors.
The clubs have only met seven times before, with Preston winning the first ever meeting back in 2013. Avondale have not lost against Preston since, winning three matches, while the last three meetings have ended in draws.
Venue: Genis Steel Stadium
Date/Time: Friday, March 20, 8:30PM
Watch: https://youtube.com/live/e7KaEmkdsFU
This is just one of the match ups we have to look forward to in the Senol National Premier League Victoria Men's and Women's competitions - Make sure you get down and support your club!
And if you can't get to the games, remember we stream every match, live and free, on the Senol NPL Victoria YouTube channel.