Glory embark on long trek to New Zealand

Perth Glory have embarked on the longest domestic football road trip in the world when they take on a seesawing New Zealand Knights outfit in the Hyundai A-League on Thursday night.

The match will see the Glory hoping to make amends for their patchy performance in the 2-1 home loss to Adelaide United last weekend by smuggling through customs three points from the Knights, who will still be a little shaken following the 4-0 drubbing handed to them by the Newcastle Jets on Sunday.

Although Perth will fancy their chances following impressive results in New Zealand in the old National Soccer League nothing in this inaugural Hyundai A-League season is a certainty.

Perth have lost twice at home, while the Knights pulled off a stunning 2-0 win over Central Coast in Gosford a fortnight ago to send alarm bells ringing through the eight-team competition, only for the alarm to abruptly switch off at EnergyAustralia Stadium.

Glory coach Steve McMahon told www.perthglory.com.au he wouldn't be buying into complaints about the five-day turnaround between matches for the Glory.

It's just as difficult for New Zealand, he said. They played a day later (than us), so I wouldn't even make an issue of it.

One thing McMahon said the Glory needed to improve on from Saturday night was their final ball, but he acknowledged they have shown an improvement (in that aspect) in other games.

McMahon also confirmed the Glory had signed striker Damian Mori after he finished his South Australian state league commitments in Adelaide. Mori agreed to a temporary contract and he will play for as long as defender David Tarka remains injured. The prolific marksman who will remain in Adelaide during his stint with Perth will join the travelling squad to take on the Knights at the expense of Solomon Islands forward Henry Fa'arodo.

McMahon wasn't giving anything away about his starting line-up, saying he will decide the team make-up on match day.

The players will know before anybody else, he quipped.

The Knights will be keen to forget their shambolic effort against the Jets in front of their home fans and with no-nonsense English defensive imports Darren Bazeley, Ronnie Bull, midfielder Neil Emblen and strikers Simon Yeo and Sean Devine, will be aiming to give McMahon and Co. headaches throughout the night.

Beware of the wounded animal, McMahon said of the Knights. They've got a point to prove and that's what they'll be doing, especially at home, so it will be difficult for us.

Glory travelling squad of 15: Jason Petkovic (GK), Jamie Coyne, Jamie Harnwell, Ante Kovacevic, Scott Miller, Hiroyuki Ishida, Stephen McMahon Jnr, Nick Ward, Billy Celeski, Simon Colosimo, Naum Sekulovski, Bobby Despotovski, Brian Deane, Damian Mori, Milan Jovanic (GK).

*New Zealand Knights vs Perth Glory kicks off at 4pm Perth time and will be broadcast live on Fox Sports. The Inglewood Hotel on Beaufort Street, Inglewood, is the selected venue for Perth Glory's away broadcast and full commentary is also available on 990 Information Radio with David Smith and Chris Jackson.