Aussies Abroad weekend preview: Mooy, Ryan face the might of Manchester

Mat Ryan could secure Premier League safety this weekend but both the Caltex Socceroos goalkeeper and Aaron Mooy have huge assignments to overcome their opposition. 

Find out what's ahead for them and plenty of other Aussies who are looking to press their claims for a spot in the extended FIFA World Cup squad to be named next week.

MOOY, RYAN PLOT UPSETS

Australia's Premier League pair face the division's top two teams as Huddersfield Town visit Manchester City and Brighton and Hove Albion host Manchester United.

Ryan is first in action as he and the Seagulls welcome Jose Mourinho's men to the Amex Stadium on Saturday morning (5:00am AEST).

The shot-stopper will hope to end a six-game winless run that has meant relegation is not yet entirely out of the equation.

Brighton are 14th on the Premier League ladder with 37 points. Below them are West Ham and Huddersfield with 35 points, Swansea on 33 points, Southampton on 32, Stoke on 30, and West Brom on 28.

That means a victory for Brighton against the Red Devils and a loss for Southampton against Everton would assure the Seagulls a spot in next season's Premier League.

Mooy, meanwhile, faces an arguably tougher tough test away to champions City, who will receive their trophy following full-time at Etihad Stadium on Sunday (10:30pm AEST).

The Terriers will be desperate to spoil the party as they sit three points above the drop zone with three fixtures remaining.

AUSSIE CLASH CLOSES OUT CHAMPIONSHIP

James Meredith could do with a favour from Mile Jedinak when Millwall host Aston Villa on the final day of the Championship season.

The Lions, for whom Tim Cahill is suspended, need three points and a large Derby County defeat against Barnsley to be a chance of finishing sixth.

Villa have already sewn up a top-six spot.

Elsewhere, Jackson Irvine's Hull City head to Brentford while Bailey Wright's Bristol City sign off with a home match against Sheffield United

All games will be played simultaneously on Sunday (9:30pm AEST).

James Meredith
James Meredith needs a big victory.

REST OF EUROPE

With the title already wrapped up, Tom Rogic will be looking to help Celtic maintain momentum in Sunday's trip to Hearts, which comes a fortnight out from the Scottish Cup final.

Jamie Maclaren, meanwhile, is hoping to net for the third successive match in Europa League-chasing Hibernian's clash at Aberdeen, while Ryan Edwards and Partick Thistle have the chance to make a big move away from relegation as they host bottom-placed Ross County.

In the Bundesliga, Matthew Leckie's Hertha Berlin head to Hannover on Saturday night (11:30pm AEDT). They are unbeaten in three matches.

Robbie Kruse is in action at the same time, seeking to continue his strong finish to the 2. Bundesliga season with sixth-placed VfL Bochum on the road to Union Berlin.

Aziz Behich can have a big say in the title race in Turkey as his Bursaspor, who are coming off back-to-back wins, travel to third-placed championship hopefuls Fenerbahce on Saturday night (11:00pm AEST).

In Switzerland, Tomi Juric will look to kick-off May on a goal-scoring note when Luzern welcome Lugano, while Trent Sainsbury's Grasshopper Zurich are in action later on Sunday, with two points separating them and opponents FC Thun.

Feyenoord have already secured a Europa League qualifying spot in the Eredivisie which means Brad Jones can relax in the final fixture of the season, an excursion to Herenveen on Sunday night (10:30pm AEST).

Ajdin Hrustic has a big opportunity to impress in Groningen's clash with champions PSV at the Philips Stadion, as Kenny Dougall and Sparta Rotterdam host Heracles.

In nearby Belgium, Danny Vukovic's KRC Genk visit Standard Liege, and in Denmark there's a home clash with Odense Boldklub for Mustafa Amini and AGF.

There's a big game for Jimmy Jeggo, too, as his Sturm Graz warm-up for next week's Austrian Cup final against Red Bull Salzburg by getting an early look at their opponents on Monday (12:30am AEST).

And in France, Alex Gersbach's Lens face already-relegated Tours, while Aleksandar Susnjar will be eager for a return to Mlada Boleslav's starting XI in their match at struggling Banik Ostrava.

ASIA

Andrew Nabbout got a first start in Japan in midweek and, after a 2-0 win for Urawa Red Diamonds in that match, should hold his spot away to Kashima Antlers on Saturday night (6:00pm AEST).

There's another all-Aussie encounter later that evening with Mitch Langerak's Nagoya Grampus set to entertain Milos Degenek and Yokohama F Marinos, who are four points ahead of their bottom-placed opponents.

Matt Jurman banked a clean sheet in Korea during the week and can look forward to a trip to FC Seoul, with Suwon Bluewings aiming to stay close to leaders Jeonbuk Motors.

Elsewhere, Aleksandar Jovanovic and Jeju United visit Kwabena Appiah's Incheon United, while Dylan McGowan's Gangwon are at Sangju Sangmu.