- Modbury Jets are in mixed form in South Australia's State League 1, with 30 goals scored and only 13 conceded.
- Modbury have the edge in the H2H, having beaten Eastern 3-0 on 11 April and drawn 0-0 on 4 April.
- Eastern have shown the ability to nick results at home, but were also beaten 1-0 at Cumberland United in their last game.
Modbury a cut above Eastern in 2026 State League 1
Modbury Jets come into this game in mixed form but with the edge over Eastern United, who have some off-field issues to deal with as well as the usual match-day drama.
The Jets, who won 4-1 against Adelaide Olympic last weekend, were held to a 1-1 draw by Adelaide Blue Eagles in their previous match, but had lost their three competitive games before that.
Maurice Natale's men look sharp on paper, with Paul and Cameron O'Doherty at the base of a 4-1-3-2 system that is compact and hard to break through.
Daniel Ditroia is the anchor, while Hamish McCabe is a livewire in the advanced midfield line who has contributed around 6-7 goal involvements in 2026.
Francesco Schimizzi is the team's main man up top and has a similarly prolific record, while Eastern will need to find a way to stop him if they are to get a result on Friday.
Jets’ transition game should see them through
Eastern's State League 1 campaign has been less impressive with only 18 goals for and 33 against, but their problems lie more in the backline, where they are vulnerable to the ball over the top and in transition.
R. Koyanagi is the club's biggest attacking weapon, with a similar record to Schimizzi, and he is the most likely to unlock Modbury's defence on Friday.
But Eastern have been playing more progressive football since the transition in leadership to Gabriel Markaj and this game should suit the teams if the Athelstone Recreation Reserve remains slick after recent cool, showery weather.
Modbury are the clear favourites at 1.39, but Eastern are available at 6.56 and the draw is at 4.35, so there is some juice to squeeze.
But the Jets have the superior attacking punch and the transition game to see them through the tough spots in this match, especially if Eastern overcommit going forward, which they are likely to do.
Side with Modbury to edge it
Eastern United have the more urgent need for three points, but this is a tough night for the club to get them, coming out of their disciplinary hearing.
Often, in these situations, a team will rally and get a positive result, but Modbury's balance and structure looks likely to see them through.
We are going for a Jets win here, probably by a one- or two-goal margin with 2-0, 2-1, and 1-3 all falling in the correct-score range.
Over 2.5 goals and Both Teams To Score are at 1.4 and 1.57, suggesting the goals markets look unlikely to offer much value, but a lively game could be on the cards with Eastern's energy and Yusuf Ahmed's ability to link the play.
