Mark Milligan is gearing up for a huge Edinburgh Derby in Scotland, as Mat Ryan prepares for a showdown at Wembley on a big weekend for our Caltex Socceroos.
Tynecastle is the venue for one of the fiercest rivalries in Scottish football, with Mark Milligan’s Hibernian making the short trip across town to face Hearts in the Premiership.
Milligan has been one of Hibs’ best performers this season and could revert to his favoured midfield role after deputising at centre-back in the goalless draw with Kilmarnock last time out.
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Hibs are just one point behind their neighbours on the SPL ladder, ensuring there is extra motivation – as if it's needed – for the clash, which kicks off at 10.30pm on Saturday (AEDT).
Elsewhere, Tom Rogic should feature in his second match since returning from injury as league-leaders Celtic host Livingston on Sunday at 1am (AEDT).
Read on as we preview the rest of the weekend for your Caltex Socceroos at home and abroad (all kick-off times in AEST unless otherwise stated).
Ryan’s date with City at Wembley
Caltex Socceroos goalkeeper Mat Ryan will realise a boyhood dream on Sunday (kick-off 2.30am) when he runs out at Wembley for the first time.
Ryan’s Brighton takes on Premier League heavyweights Manchester City in the semi-finals of England’s FA Cup.
The Seagulls are looking to reach the final of England’s oldest knockout competition for just the second time in the club’s history, with Ryan looking to deny the likes of Sergio Aguero, David Silva, Raheem Sterling and Leroy Sane.
Elsewhere in the UK, Aaron Mooy’s Huddersfield will be out to salvage some pride in the Premier League as they host Leicester City at 1am on Sunday (AEDT).
Mooy’s Terriers were relegated from the top flight last weekend, but have six games left to try and move off the foot of the ladder. They are currently three points behind second-bottom Fulham, with a game in hand.
In the Championship, Jackson Irvine’s Hull City will go all-out for three points as they look to continue their late charge for a playoff spot.
Hull, who are six points outside the top six in 12th spot, are at home against relegation-threatened Reading at 1am on Sunday (AEDT).
At the same time, fellow Aussie midfielder Massimo Luongo and his QPR side head to table-topping Norwich, who hold a five-point lead at the top of the Championship.
Title race heats up for Aussie duo
There’s a thrilling battle on for the Eredivisie title in the Netherlands, with two Caltex Socceroos defenders in the thick of it.
Trent Sainsbury and Aziz Behich have not seen a lot of game time for PSV of late, but their side currently holds a two-point lead at the top from Ajax, with a trip to sixth-placed Vitesse on Monday at 12.45am.
At the other end of the league, Alex Gersbach’s NAC Breda are four points adrift at the bottom and need to start picking up wins soon if they are to avoid the drop.
Breda are away against Heracles at 4.45am on Sunday.
A defeat for Danny Vukovic’s Genk last week has closed their lead at the top in Belgium to just one point and they will look for an immediate response at home against Gent (4.30am, Sunday).
In Germany, Mathew Leckie’s Hertha Berlin will look to claim another significant scalp as they take on Fortuna Dusseldorf at 12.30am Sunday (AEDT) in the Bundesliga.
Dropping down a division, and Robbie Kruse’s Vfl Bochum are on the road against Regensburg at 3.30am on Sunday.
Fresh from a 4-0 Danish Cup semi-final victory against Odense Boldklub on Thursday, Awer Mabil’s Midtjyllland remains in hot contention for a league-cup double.
They lie in second spot behind FC Copenhagen after one game of the Danish Superliga playoffs and face a trip to Esbjerg at 12am on Monday.
Mustafa Amini’s AGF are also in action over the weekend, travelling to Horsens at 4am on Saturday (AEDT).
Midfielder James Jeggo, of Austria Wien, will meet his former club Sturm Graz at home at 10.30pm on Sunday, while Apostolos Giannou’s AEK Larnaca are away against Omonia Nicosia at 2am on Sunday.
Langerak’s impressive start in Japan
Mitch Langerak’s Nagoya Grampus have started the J.League season in impressive fashion, leading the ladder after the opening five rounds.
They will be out to maintain their spot at the summit when they travel to Kashima Antlers at 9pm on Friday night (AEDT).
Andrew Nabbout’s Urawa Reds are also in action on Friday, hosting Ange Postecoglou’s Yokohama F. Marinos at 9.30pm (AEDT).
In Saudi Arabia, Matthew Jurman’s Al Ittihad are at home against Al Batin at 4.45am on Saturday (AEDT), while Milos Degenek’s Al Hilal have the weekend off.
Degenek’s side will next be in action in the AFC Champions League when they take on Iran’s Eseghal at 3am on Tuesday.
And in the Hyundai A-League, defender Rhyan Grant’s Sydney FC are involved in a blockbuster Big Blue against Melbourne Victory at the SCG on Saturday night at 7.50pm (AEDT).
Jamie Maclaren is set to return for Melbourne City in their clash against Brisbane Roar on Friday (kick-off at 7.50pm AEDT), after he missed last weekend due to concussion.
And Chris Ikonomidis heads to Gosford on Sunday, with his Perth Glory taking on Central Coast Mariners, with kick-off at 7pm.
