Soccer: Knights captain back in saddle

New Zealand Knights captain Danny Hay was a surprise passenger on the flight to Australia yesterday.

Originally left out of coach John Adshead's squad for tomorrow night's game against the Central Coast Mariners in Gosford, Hay was handed a late call-up and joined the selected 15 on the trip to Sydney.

"There is a risk factor," Adshead conceded before flying out. "But I thought about it overnight and realised a fit Danny Hay is important to this side. I asked the board for their support and called him in.

"If he comes through training [today] he will definitely be considered."

It is early-season crisis time for the Knights. They are the only team without a point after two rounds. But a win in Gosford could launch them into a mid-table position.

"A win could put us in the top four," said Adshead. "We keep improving, but that means nothing if we don't get points."

Adshead said individual mistakes punished them in their matches against Queensland and Sydney.

"At the moment the players are overeager. Patience needs to be paramount until we start getting points. We can take some comfort in that teams haven't opened us up."

It will not be easy against a confident Coast side. They won the Pre-Season Cup and kicked-off their Hyundai A-League campaign with a win in Perth.

After missing the first two games with a knee injury, ace striker Nick Mrdja could return to further add to the Knights' woes.

Most third-round interest will centre on tonight's clash between unbeaten Adelaide United and Melbourne Victory.

It promises to be a tight, low-scoring affair. In taking a win and a draw, the John Kosmina-coached Adelaide have scored only one goal. In playing out two draws, the Victory have scored three.

That closeness is evident across the league with four of the eight games being drawn.

Queensland, early leaders on goal difference, face a testing trip tomorrow to play a Perth side who have struggled with the loss to Central Coast and a draw in Melbourne last week against a Victory side who were without Socceroo striker Archie Thompson.

New Zealand referee Peter O'Leary has had a busy season. He controlled the league opener in Newcastle two weeks ago, was at North Harbour Stadium last Friday and will be at Hindmarsh Stadium tonight when Adelaide play Melbourne.