SOCCEROO Tom Rogic will put on hold birthday celebrations to help reward his Central Coast coach Graham Arnold with a club record fifth straight win at home at Bluetongue Stadium against Melbourne Heart tonight.
Rogic, who turns 20 today, is rated as the A-League's "next big thing" having also played his part alongside teammate Matt Ryan in securing Holger Osieck's Socceroos a place at the East Asian Cup tournament.
While Arnold won't finalise his run-on side until just before kick-off, he is tossing up between the youngster Rogic or the vastly more experienced Mile Sterjovski to fill a hole in midfield. Oliver Bozanic is sitting out a compulsory one week after a head knock in the Mariners' 2-0 away win against Newcastle last week. Both Rogic and Sterjovski, who has missed the past two games with a calf strain, completed training yesterday.
But it is the ageless Daniel McBreen, at 35, who is in the best form of his distinguished career.
McBreen has enjoyed a colourful career after starting with his hometown team Newcastle United in the old NSL before stints in Scotland and England.
Since his return to Australia, he has had spells with the now defunct North Queensland Fury then Perth Glory before settling with the Mariners.
"Macca is a pro who works hard at training," Arnold said yesterday.
"We've had to cut back on his training loads to try to keep him fresher for the games and it seems to be working very well."
While Arnold is looking to his team to set a new home record, he wants them to stay on a roll. The Mariners last tasted defeat seven weeks ago, a 2-1 loss to the Jets on October 20.
"They are the form side of the competition," Melbourne Heart assistant coach Hayden Foxe said of tonight's opponents.
"The Mariners have proven to be a real thorn in our two previous encounters this year," Foxe said.
"Arnie has them well-drilled, has a great roster to pick from and Daniel McBreen is the form striker of the competition.
"McBreen has been on fire of late. As well as getting his name on the scoresheet, he's a hard worker in Central Coast's front third of the pitch.
"They've also shown they fear nobody when they play at home."
The Heart coaching staff of John Aloisi and Foxe also has the added quandary of just who to leave out as the three returning Socceroos Aziz Behich, Richard Garcia and Michael Marrone are injury-free and available.
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