- In the Queensland FFA Cup Preliminary, Marlin Coast Rangers have won all five matches, scored 18 goals and conceded eight.
- The two clubs have never met in the FFA Cup or Australia Cup qualifying pathways.
- Logan Lightning's recent attacking output has been by committee with several different players scoring recently.
Rangers on fire on home turf
Logan Lightning will face a hot Marlin Coast Rangers side at Trinity Beach on Saturday in the first-ever meeting between the two Queensland clubs in the FFA Cup or any Australia Cup qualification pathway. The winner will move into the next stage of this cup competition, which is a must-win for any club with pride, or an eye on a future A-League bid.
The Rangers are playing with the sort of fire and purpose that can make them dangerous opponents in this knockout competition. The home side has won five straight matches in all competitions, with a 6-3 win over Innisfail United in the last round and a 4-1 win at Brothers Townsville in the previous round.
Player-coach Crios O'Hare is the heartbeat of the team, contributing to the goals, and his direct, fast-paced tactics have seen the home team rack up 18 goals in their five cup ties.
O’Hare’s team playing at high tempo
The team's high-tempo, direct style is ideal for the cup and is sure to test the visitors' patience. O'Hare's side are not a possession team, preferring to use the counter-attack and quick restarts to get bodies forward in the wide areas and catch opponents offside.
This game will be a clash of styles with Piddick's Logan Lightning more of a possession-based team, with a tactical plan that demands disciplined pressing triggers and patient buildup to dictate tempo and possession in the middle of the park.
The Lightning are mid-table in the current Queensland Premier League and have won four, drawn two and lost five of their last 11-12 games. It's inconsistent, but Grae Piddick's team has shown some good form lately, with three straight wins, including a 3-1 away win at North Star and a 2-0 victory at St George Willawong.
They lost 0-4 at Broadbeach and 2-5 at Sunshine Coast in the other games, so they have conceded nine times in their last five, although they have scored, so they can hit the target.
Go for goals on Golden Coast
The bookies make Logan Lightning clear favourites at 1.48, with Marlin Coast Rangers at 5.06 and the draw at 4.4, but the hosts will want this game and there is plenty of passion in their squad for this sort of competition.
Marlin Coast are the real deal at home right now and their goal output in recent games (an average of over 3.5 in their last five cup games) should worry Logan Lightning.
Expect a passionate crowd and possibly some greasy underfoot conditions at Trinity Beach on Saturday and that will suit the host's direct, transition-based attacking style.
Ferrer Sendra and Pin have been their regular goalscorers, but they add pace and clinical finishing to the frontline, so we're going for both teams to score (BTTS) at 1.44 and over 2.5 goals at 1.33.