POPOVIC CONFIDENT OVER JURIC AND SPIRANOVIC, BUT DOUBT REMAINS OVER SANTALAB AHEAD OF ACL FINAL

Western Sydney Wanderers coach Tony Popovic has confirmed striker Tomi Juric and defender Matthew Spiranovic “should be available” for Saturday’s AFC Champions League final first leg against Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal at Parramatta Stadium, although doubts still remain over forward Brendon Santalab.

Juric has not featured in Western Sydney’s opening two games of the new A-League season and was forced to withdraw from Australia’s squad for this month’s friendlies with the United Arab Emirates and Qatar due to a groin strain, while Spiranovic underwent ankle surgery following the 2014 FIFA World Cup and has not played since Brazil.

Santalab, meanwhile, suffered a hamstring strain in the closing stages of last weekend’s 3-2 defeat by Sydney FC which handed back-to-back Grand Finalists Western Sydney a second consecutive defeat of the new domestic campaign.

“They are all progressing, they are all improving. They are at different stages in their recovery,” said former Australia international defender Popovic.

“Brendon came off with a suspected hamstring injury at the weekend and he is one we are just monitoring and he is a bit touch-and-go, while Tomi and Matthew we believe should be available.”

Juric, who was Western Sydney’s highest scorer during the 2013/14 season with nine goals in all competitions, scored two goals in four games during the AFC Champions League knockout stage successes over Japan’s Sanfrecce Hiroshima and China’s Guangzhou Evergrande but missed the semi-final success over FC Seoul due to a combination of injury and suspension.

Spiranovic, meanwhile, enjoyed a stand-out debut season with the club prior to the 2014 FIFA World Cup having joined Western Sydney in October 2013 following spells in Germany, Japan and Qatar, but after playing all three games for Australia in Brazil missed the successes over Guangzhou and FC Seoul due to surgery.

Santalab did start Western Sydney’s 2-0 semi-final success over 2013 finalists FC Seoul from Korea Republic earlier this month having netted three goals in the AFC Champions League this year but is a doubt as Popovic’s side seek to become the first Australian winner of the continental competition.

“It is the biggest game in the Wanderers history. It is a Champions League final and they do not come round very often, whether in Europe or in Asia,” added Popovic.

“It is the biggest game that players from this region can play in at club level and we are approaching it that way and we believe that we can handle that.”