The second of Saturday A-League Round 19 matches is between Melbourne Heart and Melbourne Victory. The game is set to commence at 7.45pm with the game to be played at AAMI Park. Home team Melbourne Heart go into the match as the favourites in the market. View our preview and teams for the game between Melbourne Heart and Melbourne Victory.

Round: Round 21, 7.45pm AEDT, Saturday 1st of March
Stadium: AAMI Park
Head to head: Played: 10, Wins: Melbourne Heart 2 Melbourne Victory 4 Draws 4
Previous encounter: Melbourne Heart 1 Melbourne Victory 3

Melbourne Heart $2.37 vs Melbourne Victory $2.87 at Sportsbet Australia get a $250 FREE BET on this match

Melbourne Heart $2.40 vs Melbourne Victory $2.70 at Luxbet Australia get a $500 FREE BET on this match

Odds Comparison:

Melbourne Heart	2.37	2.40	2.40	2.40	1.75	2.38
Draw	3.40	3.40	3.40	3.40	3.50	3.25
Melbourne Victory	2.87	2.85	2.70	2.85	4.15	2.80

All odds are subject to change. Odds listed are correct at the time of the latest update.

Tips: Melbourne Victory to win.

Teams:

Melbourne Heart FC Squad:
1.Andrew REDMAYNE (GK), 3.Robbie WIELAERT, 4.Orlando ENGELAAR, 7.Iain RAMSAY, 8.Massimo MURDOCCA, 10.Harry KEWELL (C), 11.Michael MIFSUD, 13.Jonatan GERMANO, 15.David WILLIAMS, 17.Jason HOFFMAN, 18.David VRANKOVIC, 19.Benjamin GARRUCIO, 20.Tando VELHAPI (GK), 21.Stefan MAUK, 22.Nicholas KALMAR, 23.Mate DUGANDZIC, 24.Patrick KISNORBO, 27.Luke O’DEA
**Two to be omitted**
Ins: 3.Robbie WIELAERT (returns from suspension), 10.Harry KEWELL (returns from injury), 11.Michael MIFSUD (promoted), 27.Luke O’DEA (promoted)
Outs: 6.Patrick GERHARDT (suspended – accumulation – 1 week), 16.Aziz BEHICH (suspended – accumulation – 1 week)
Unavailable: Nil

Melbourne Victory Squad:
1.Nathan COE (gk), 3.Adama TRAORE, 4.Nick ANSELL, 5.Mark MILLIGAN (c), 6.Leigh BROXHAM, 7.Gui FINKLER, 9.Kosta BARBAROUSES, 10.Archie THOMPSON, 11.Connor PAIN, 13.Andrew NABBOUT, 14.James TROISI, 16.Rashid MAHAZI, 20.Lawrence THOMAS (gk), 21.Tom ROGIC, 22.Jesse MAKAROUNAS, 24.Scott GALLOWAY, 25.Jason GERIA, 31. Dylan MURNANE
**Two to be omitted**
Ins: 11.Connor PAIN (promoted), 25. Jason GERIA (promoted) 31. Dylan MURNANE (promoted)
Outs: 2. Pablo CONTRERAS (suspended – 1 week)
Unavailable: 23. Adrian LEIJER (facial fractures – 3-4 weeks)

Preview:

The third and almost certainly final Melbourne derby for the season takes place this Saturday as night as Melbourne Heart host fierce local rivals Melbourne Victory at AAMI Park, in what should be an enthralling encounter.

The Heart have hit a purple patch since the return of manager John van’t Schip and are undefeated since their Round 14 trip across the Nullarboor Plain.

The Dutchman has injected a new sense of confidence and self belief in the side which is now playing arguably its best football since its inception.

Victory have also run into some good form with wins over Central Coast and Adelaide United in the past fortnight, but a midweek trip to Guangzhou Evergrande may be the cause for some tired legs. They will have to be wary of their opponents who have become a totally different animal since the last meeting between the two sides in December.

Key Battle

Orlando Engelaar v Adam Traore

Whilst not a conventional match-up these two are key to their respective sides’ chances.

Orlando Engelaar showed last week why he is worthy of his marquee status at the Heart with a terrific performance in the centre of midfield.

The 14-time Dutch international’s quality was plain to see as he put in a man in the match performance against league leaders Brisbane Roar, topping it off with a goal in a 1-0 win.

Adama Traore has showed himself to be a versatile defender and he may be once again called upon to drift into the centre as cover for the suspended Pablo Contreras and injured Adrian Leijer.

Traore has been a constant stand-out for the Victory since making the switch from the now defunct Gold Coast United.

Team News

The Heart will be without Patrick Gerhardt and Aziz Behich, with both suspended for one week.

Harry Kewell and Rob Wielart have returned to the preliminary squad after injury whilst Michael Mifsud and Luke O’Dea have been promoted.

The Victory are once again stretched in defence as Pablo Contreras misses this weekend’s clash through suspension with Adrian Leijer still out of the side due to facial fractures sustained in the match away at Central Coast earlier this month.

Connor Pain, Jason Geria and Dylan Murnane have all been promoted to the preliminary squad.

Head-to-Head

Played: 10, Wins: Melbourne Heart 2 Melbourne Victory 4 Draws 4

Previous Meeting

Melbourne Heart 1 Melbourne Victory 3

The Heart hosted the Victory in December but were stifled when Patrick Kisnorbo was sent off for a rash challenge midway through the first half.

The Victory dominated proceedings from then on with James Troisi scoring one and Mitch Nicholls – now at Japan’s Cerezo Osaka – bagging a brace.

Nick Kalmar popped up in the 81st minute with a late consolation goal to round out the scoring.

Prediction

Heart will be looking to exploit any tiredness in the Victory squad from the midweek trip to China and unlike the previous encounter in December, they will fancy themselves to win.

The Heart often sit back and try to absorb pressure from the Victory but expect this to be a much more free flowing game.

The Victory will need to bounce back after a deflating second half against reigning ACL champions Guangzhou, losing 4-2 after having a two-goal lead at the change.

Kevin Muscat’s side may be heading into this game as slight underdogs against the resurgent Heart but they have certainly got more than enough quality to get a result.