This round will see Admiralty travel to Lae to play Lae FC, while Besta and Morobe United are in Port Moresby face Oro and Eastern Stars respectively.
All Port Moresby NSL matches will be played at the Bisini Soccer Ground. Admiralty coach Batram Suri has a mammoth task on hand to prove that their previous 1-0 win against Lae was no fluke. The Solomon Islands coach has a talented roster at his disposal who can beat Lae FC in Lae.
Admiralty striker Moffat Kalifa, Mark Gobona and Pettysen Elizah are a deadly combination up front. With good support from ever reliable mid-fielder duo in Michael Foster and Roniel Igens, the Manus provincial government-sponsored team should have no problem producing positive results.
Admiralty’s only opposition on the day would be Lae’s vocal crowd who would no doubt get behind their home team.
Lae coach Peter Gunemba could reshuffle his frontline in a move to add more strike power. Clement Peka could be the man Gunemba is planning to move up to striker while Japeth Tiampo has been strong as a defender.
In Port Moresby, Morobe United have a task to show everyone they are not pretenders against the Stars. The Milne Bay franchise played well last week and Morobe are no sure things.
In the opening game in Port Moresby, Oro should have no problem over Besta United.
However, with Bob Morris and Wynton Ruffer at helm, the juniors have been causing headaches for the established teams.
Current standings on the points ladder: Hekari United FC 18, Gigira Laitepo Morobe FC 13, Oro FC 11, Lae FC 10, Besta PNG United FC 7, Admiralty FC 6, Eastern Stars FC 5.