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Perth coach Kenny Lowe anticipates a vastly different Central Coast under new coach Paul Okon, when two sides with contrasting expectations meet to open their A-League campaigns.Championship contenders Glory are comfortable favourites to defeat back-to-back wooden-spoon contenders the Mariners at nib Stadium on Saturday.Johnny Warren Medallist Diego Castro and fringe Socceroo Rhys Williams headline a formidable Perth squad dramatically strengthened by shrewd off-season recruitment.On paper its a daunting prospect for even the leagues top teams, let alone one that conceded 70 goals last season.But Lowe predicted the Mariners would be unrecognisable from their days under sacked coach Tony Walmsley.He cited his successor, former Young Socceroos coach Okon, and an increase in experience in former Sydney FC players Jacques Faty, Mickael Tavares and goalkeeper Ivan Necevski.Theyll be a different entity altogether, Lowe said.Very well-organised and difficult to play against.Theyve got some experience this year. Their goalkeeper is highly experienced, youve got Faty and Tavares whove played at the top level and (captain) Nick Montgomery has about 500 league games.And a highly credentialed coach whos worked in the national set-up for five or six years.Lowe was also wary of a lively front three in Fabio Ferreira, Roy ODonovan and ex-Melbourne Victory winger Connor Pain.But Glory possess their own attacking arsenal, with strikers Andy Keogh and Adam Taggart ready for deployment.Defender Shane Lowry is still unavailable following minor pre-season surgery, while rising Mariners star Liam Rose is away on international duty.But Storm Roux could make his return having overcome a terrible series of injuries sustained in February.Okon is working to tighten up the Mariners defence while implementing his preferred open, attacking playing philosophy.Were confident of our ability and playing style, Okon said.Were also confident that if we can perform consistently to the level weve shown in the past couple of pre-season games we certainly will have something to say in this competition.STATS THAT MATTER:* Perth won five and drew one of their past seven games against Central Coast; they last beat them 4-0* The Mariners conceded four goals in each of their past five away games* Glory scored the most penalties last season without missing a single attempt (8/8)Marco Belinelli Jersey . Cote was eligible to become a free agent Feb. 15. Cote helped running back Jon Cornish run for a league-high 1,813 rushing yards en route to being named the leagues most outstanding player. Tony Parker Jersey . The Montreal Canadiens announced on Friday that the veteran forward will return to the teams line-up on Saturday night when the Habs visit the Nashville Predators. http://www.cheapspursjerseys.com/?tag=cheap-tim-duncan-jersey . -- Al Jefferson found a groove just in time for the Charlotte Bobcats. Derrick White Jersey . Self was acquired from the Buffalo Bandits in a trade for Alex Hill midway through last season, and made his debut in Rochester on March 16, 2013. Sean Elliott Jersey . -- Jaye Marie Green shot a 4-under 68 on Thursday to increase her lead to five strokes after the second round of the LPGA Tours qualifying tournament.Powered by his sterling FFA Cup semi-final comeback, reinvigorated Sydney FC winger Bernie Ibini is itching to take his game back to the A-League.Ibini played his first competitive minutes in nearly 18 months on Wednesday night, blazing off the bench to score the Sky Blues third goal against Canberra Olympic and seal their first final berth.It was a moment that will live long in the memory of the 24-year-old, who thought he may never have played again had he not returned to Australia for medical treatment following a horrible leg injury in Belgium.Ibinis blistering pace in rushing onto Matt Simons cross betrayed no signs of the broken fibula and torn ligaments that still affected his ankle in July when he re-joined Sydney on loan from Club Brugge.ddddddddddddIm over the moon, Ibini told AAP.I couldnt have dreamed for a much better comeback ... but theres room for improvement.The fitness will come with playing games so Im definitely hoping for more minutes.Ibini has been named in coach Graham Arnolds squad to face Wellington Phoenix on Sunday and could well find himself clocking his first A-League minutes since the Sky Blues 2014-15 grand-final loss.From there, the challenge will be pushing his way back into a starting line-up stacked with attacking talent and already featuring in-form right winger Filip Holosko. ' ' '