Striker Baba Diawara is set to play some part in Adelaide United's FFA Cup quarter-final against giantkillers APIA Leichhardt on Wednesday.
United will give the semi-professional side maximum respect when they travel to Leichhardt Oval, after APIA knocked out A-League champions Melbourne Victory in the last round.
Coach Marco Kurz doesn't want to take a risk with Senegalese talisman Diawara, who scored two goals in his 11 league appearances last season.
He is managing his game time ahead of the start of their A-League season at home to Sydney FC on 19th October.
Diawara played the whole of the second half of the 2-2 friendly against Perth Glory at Coopers Stadium last week.
Kurz, who confirmed the 30-year-old would travel to take on the part-timers, said of him: "He's improved well, step by step everybody knows we must be very careful with Baba because of his injury history but he's on a good way.
"Last week he played 45 minutes against a very strong team in Perth and he did well. Every player travelling is ready to start and now it's up to me to find the right line-up for APIA."
The home side beat Victory 3-2 in the last round thanks to a goal 10 minutes from time from Nathan Millgate.
They had led 2-0 before Kevin Muscat's side levelled with a Kenny Athiu brace inside six minutes.
United are aiming to make it back-to-back semi-final appearances, but Kurz admits it's a tough prospect to play against a team who have nothing to lose.
"We know what we have to do and I think it's very important that we've a good attitude, the same as in an A-League game," he said.
Adelaide are 2/5 to beat APIA, who are 11/2, with the draw 4/1.
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Striker Baba Diawara is set to play some part in Adelaide United's FFA Cup quarter-final against giantkillers APIA Leichhardt on Wednesday.
United will give the semi-professional side maximum respect when they travel to Leichhardt Oval, after APIA knocked out A-League champions Melbourne Victory in the last round.
Coach Marco Kurz doesn't want to take a risk with Senegalese talisman Diawara, who scored two goals in his 11 league appearances last season.
He is managing his game time ahead of the start of their A-League season at home to Sydney FC on 19th October.
Diawara played the whole of the second half of the 2-2 friendly against Perth Glory at Coopers Stadium last week.
Kurz, who confirmed the 30-year-old would travel to take on the part-timers, said of him: "He's improved well, step by step everybody knows we must be very careful with Baba because of his injury history but he's on a good way.
"Last week he played 45 minutes against a very strong team in Perth and he did well. Every player travelling is ready to start and now it's up to me to find the right line-up for APIA."
The home side beat Victory 3-2 in the last round thanks to a goal 10 minutes from time from Nathan Millgate.
They had led 2-0 before Kevin Muscat's side levelled with a Kenny Athiu brace inside six minutes.
United are aiming to make it back-to-back semi-final appearances, but Kurz admits it's a tough prospect to play against a team who have nothing to lose.
"We know what we have to do and I think it's very important that we've a good attitude, the same as in an A-League game," he said.
Adelaide are 2/5 to beat APIA, who are 11/2, with the draw 4/1.
View all Soccer betting
Source: bet365.com