Brisbane coach Ange Postecoglou has steeled his players for their glamour A-League battle with Melbourne Victory by urging them not to let go of their "once in a lifetime" streak.
The Roar put their 32-game unbeaten sequence on the line at Victory's intimidating Docklands in front of an expected 30,000 vocal fans on Saturday night.
The Victory were the last club to beat Brisbane (3-0) in the same round last year.
And their fans have not forgotten the 3-3 draw in Melbourne at their last meeting when they claimed goalkeeper Michael Theoklitos handled the ball outside the square before sending it downfield for the Roar to equalise in the dying minutes.
Postecoglou on Friday rejected the theory a loss could help by releasing pressure on him and his players.
"No, this (streak) is a once in a lifetime thing," he said.
"I keep saying to the players whenever it happens (a loss) it happens but don't give it up too easily because none of us are ever going to be in this situation again. I guarantee you that.
"When people are digging back to the 1930s to find another team that has done it in any code, and that's not a comparison of codes or the difficulties, in any sport it's very hard to go that distance.
"We're on that streak now so why let it go?
"Let's enjoy the ride while it's going, for however long it takes us.
"I certainly don't want it to end, let it go on forever."
Brisbane's 7-1 demolition of Adelaide last week moved the side to within four of breaking a 74-year Australian cross-code undefeated streak set by the legendary Eastern Suburbs rugby league team of 1935-37 which went 35 games.
Victory's superstar signing Harry Kewell acknowledged Postecoglou's contribution to Brisbane's streak before saying he was plotting to end it on Saturday night.
"I think that's all down to the way their attitude is," Kewell said of the Roar's run.
"Their manager's instilled something great within that team and they're taking that off the pitch and especially on the pitch.
"It's going to be a tough game this weekend but we're up for it."
Former Roar striker Jean Carlos Solorzano is battling Danny Allsopp for a Victory starting spot against the club he shared a championship with last season.
Postecoglou said Melbourne would be quietly confident of knocking over Brisbane.
"They've got some attacking threats in Carlos (Solorzarno) and Archie (Thompson) and Harry (Kewell) who are weapons who can all stick one in the back of the net," he said.
"It's not part of the Australian sporting culture to be a defeatist and I'm sure they believe they can knock us off, why not?
"Anyone can be knocked off so it's up to us to ensure we're on our game or we will get knocked off."
AAP
Tags: a-league, soccer, sport, brisbane-4000, qld, australia, melbourne-3000, vic First posted November 04, 2011 18:29:10
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