Soccer: Kingz know too well their place at table

By TERRY MADDAFORD

The Football Kingz are back in familiar territory in the Australian National Soccer League.

Tonight at Suncorp Stadium they play Brisbane Strikers, who are one point and one place ahead of them on the table.

As ever, it is a game the Kingz must win as they desperately try to get their season on track.

While the starting XI will not be made public until the customary hour before kickoff, the 15-player squad in Australia again hint at changes. Che Bunce is missing from the team who played in the 2-2 draw with Melbourne Knights last week.

Apparently Bunce missed the trip for disciplinary reasons, opening the door at last for Gerard Davis, who should get a start in the defence, possibly in place of Riki Van Steeden, who continues to struggle.

With Dennis Ibrahim and Paul Urlovic out with injury, Andy Bluhm gets a recall to a squad heavily weighted with midfielders.

Wynton Rufer, still the class act and surely the key to the Kingz' hopes, will spearhead the attack, with Tim Stevens his logical striking partner, although Harry Ngata or Bluhm might be pushed forward to bolster the attack as the Auckland-based side go in search of much-needed goals.

Man-of-the-moment goalkeeper Chris Marsh will start at the back with Julio Cuello as his understudy.

He will have Levent Osman at sweeper in front of him, with fellow Australian defender Michael Cartwright vying with Davis for the spot vacated by Bunce.

The midfield promises to hold the key to the Kingz' success, with in-form Mark Burton leading the charge alongside Ivan Vicelich, Ngata, Jonathan Perry and Arran Lines, who has yet to show his best this season after his long injury layoff.

Striker Aaron Silva, who was replaced after 55 minutes against the Knights, is out of the squad again.

Brisbane have four players injured and Jeremy Harris suspended, but have Wayne Srhoj back from suspension after missing last week's 2-2 away draw with bottom-placed Eastern Pride. In the previous round, Brisbane handed Sydney Olympic their first loss of the season. Tonight's game kicks off at 9 o'clock (NZ time).

Meanwhile, Carlton hope to play their home game against Perth Glory this weekend after having last week's away game against Adelaide City Force canned because of financial woes.

Apparently the problems have yet to be resolved, although Melbourne businessman Tony Schiavello has offered to cover player wages for this weekend's match.

The club has appointed an administrator to work with Soccer Australia in the hope getting through the 2000-2001 season.