Auckland FC and Melbourne City occupy two of the top three spots in the A-League heading into the upcoming round of fixtures, with the Black Knights currently a point behind the Hearts.
Saturday's hosts came into the league ahead of the 2024/25 campaign and started with six victories before a recent wobble that has seen them win only one of their last five.
Meanwhile, current leaders City are unbeaten in seven, including winning their last three.
All of those were at home, but they remain unbeaten on the road in the A-League this season, so they will be confident heading into Saturday's game at Go Media Stadium.
With Socceroos Mathew Leckie, Marco Tilio, Andrew Nabbout and Jimmy Jeggo absent, as well as oversees signings Yonatan Cohen and Andreas Kuen, City boss Aurelio Vidmar has leant on his club's academy stars in recent weeks.
Amidst what director of football Michael Petrillo has labelled as the "worst injury count I've seen", youngsters such as Benjamin Mazzeo have inspired their recent run.
The visitors are 3.40 to win in Penrose, where Auckland are 2.10 to respond after losing 4-0 at home to Western United pre-Christmas and then drawing 0-0 with Melbourne Victory at Mount Smart on New Year's Day.
Steve Corica guided the Black Knights to a flying start in their inaugural season, but their recent run of one win in five has calmed the excitement around them.
At time of writing they are still third on the ladder, a point and two places behind City, whom they drew 2-2 with at AAMI Park in December, the result that curtailed their winning run.
A repeat draw is 3.50, with another 2-2 available at 15.00.
Teenage forward Mazzeo has scored in City's last two games. Those wins over Western United and Brisbane Roar have both been at home and he will hope to repeat that form on the road.
The 19-year-old is 4.75 score again and may have more support with City getting some of their stars back from the casualty list.
Auckland have failed to score in three of their last four, the anomaly being a 4-1 win at Central Coast Mariners.
Jake Brimmer and Guillermo May were both on target for the Kiwis and are their team's joint-top scorers with three goals. Brimmer is 5.50 to score at anytime, while May is 3.00.
Meanwhile, City's Steven Ugarkovic has scored three goals this season and is 4.75 to add to his tally.
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Auckland FC - 2.10
Draw - 3.50
Melbourne City - 3.40
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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.