Preview: Western United vs. Brisbane Roar - prediction, team news, lineups

Brisbane Roar will look to end a five-game winless run on Sunday, when they make the trip to South Australia to take on Western United.

The hosts will be hoping to end a poor run of their own, having lost their last two games, most recently falling to a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Sydney FC.

Match preview

After a positive run of consecutive wins for the first time this campaign, Western United have since lost their last two league matches, dropping back down to ninth spot in the Australian A-League table as a result.

They travelled to Sydney FC most recently, with goals from Bobo and Ryan Grant condemning Mark Rudan's side to their fourth league defeat of the season.

Before that, Western United suffered a narrow 1-0 loss at home to Western Sydney Wanderers, with Jordon Mutch netting the only goal of the game.

However, Rudan's men have still been fairly impressive at home this campaign, winning two and drawing two of their five league games on home turf so far.

The Australian manager will look to continue that strong home record on Sunday, when his side square off against a Brisbane Roar team in a concerning run of form.

Last time out, the side from Brisbane drew 1-1 at home to Sydney FC, as Bobo equalised for the visitors after Dylan Wenzel-Halls's early opener.

That draw extended their winless run to five league games, having picked up just three points in that time.

As a result, Warren Moon's side have dropped down to sixth spot, only remaining that high thanks to a strong start when they won four of their first five league matches.

However, they do remain just three points behind second-placed Melbourne City, meaning a turn in results would see them quickly move back into the cluster of sides at the top end of the table.

Moon will be desperate to begin that resurgence with a win in this game, in order to avoid losing any more ground on the sides above them.

Team News

Western United will come into this game without centre-back Andrew Durante, who will serve a suspension after he was shown a red card in the last minute of the defeat to Sydney FC.

They could also remain without goalkeeper Filip Kurto, after he was forced off through injury in the defeat to Western Sydney Wanderers.

In Kurto's absence, Ryan Scott started in the Western United goal last time out, and he is expected to be called upon again on Sunday.

Brisbane Roar are expected to remain without experienced forward Scott McDonald, who has missed the last two games with a hamstring injury.

In his absence, Golgol Mebrahtu has led the line for Warren Moon's side, with the forward still in search of his first A-League goal after joining on a free transfer in January.

Western United possible starting lineup:
Scott; Imai, Uskok, Hamill; Pierias, Sanchez, Skotadis, Pain; Diamanti, Berisha, Guarrotxenna

Brisbane Roar possible starting lineup:
Young; Trewin, Aldred, Gillesphey; Hingert, Akbari, O'Shea, Brown; Danzaki, Mebrahtu, Wenzel-Halls

We say: Western United 1-2 Brisbane Roar

We see Brisbane Roar putting an end to their winless run in this game, outclassing a Western United side who are missing players in crucial positions.

Warren Moon's men will see a victory as crucial on Sunday, and that desire should carry them to a fifth league win of the season.