- UWA-Nedlands Reserves (22pts from 10 games) are flying high on Saturday
- Floreat Athena Reserves (15pts from 10) are mid-table and have been in mixed form in 2026
UWA-Nedlands favourites to win free-flowing mid-season contest
UWA-Nedlands FC Reserves are justifying their favourites status with a fine start to the 2026 Western Australia State League 1 Reserves season and should maintain their title ambitions with a win over mid-table Floreat Athena FC Reserves on Saturday.
The home side, who edged Floreat 2-1 away in the only game these clubs have played against each other so far in 2026, have produced some of the division's most eye-catching results over the past couple of months.
Kris Donnell's side belted Curtin 5-0 away from home at the start of May, then beat Subiaco 2-0 away a week later, but were undone by Joondalup in their last game at home.
UWA-Nedlands are still in good form overall, however, having won three of their last five, kept two clean sheets and scored five goals in one game, but they did show their vulnerability at the back in a 2-3 defeat to Joondalup.
Floreat Athena have also been impressive in spells, smashing Mandurah away from home and beating Curtin 5-2 at home in April, but two defeats and a 0-0 draw in their last four have halted their progress.
Both teams press with intense urgency and look to score quickly after winning the ball back, so Saturday's contest should be an end-to-end match with plenty of chances at both ends.
A cool, cloudy night at UWA Sports Park will be ideal for both clubs' playing styles and could lead to a real spectacle.
Alun Vernals' Floreat players are more of an organised unit that can dominate possession and punish teams with their high-tempo wide play, while UWA-Nedlands are more direct and can play through the middle or wide with equal effectiveness.
Angus Furness is a big goal threat for the home team and was on fire in the 5-0 thrashing of Curtin, but Jay Patel and Omar Albadri also have crucial goals to show for their efforts this term.
The visitors are more of a collective force and don't rely on one player to provide their spark in the final third, so they could grab a goal and make this a close contest.
But the form and position in the league suggests UWA-Nedlands will edge this one and we are taking them to do so in what should be a lively contest.
The odds are very short for goals on this one, but we will take Over 2.5 goals at 1.32 and both teams to score at 1.33. UWA-Nedlands are 1.93 favourites, Floreat are 2.99 and the draw 3.84.