Sydney's biggest challenge arrives.

At the end of this week, as we prepare for our weekend of football from leagues world-wide, there will be no game more eagerly anticipated in Sydney and the Gold Coast than the match that will kick off at 5pm on Saturday afternoon. The two glamour clubs collide in a clash of the titans, the winner taking the all vital 3 points which will place them high above the other teams on the top of the A-league after 5 rounds.

The new boys use a flamboyant style of play easy on the eye, a team for the neutral - their star studded line-up toying with the opposition before hammering the goals; 11 in total after 4 rounds. The other team, the underachievers of the last few years, have taken a more defensive approach - their defence is their form of attack. Sydney have not conceded in their last 3 matches.

Gold Coast and Sydney have both only conceded 2 goals - but Sydney are undoubtedly the team to beat, the only without a loss. They come into this game with all the momentum after polishing off a very professional performance against Wellington on Sunday at the football stadium. They had a few scares and Wellington managed to keep themselves in the game until Sydney scored the opener towards the back half of the game with a fiery header from Brendon Gan. A brilliant piece of play which involved Brosque playing in a beautiful chip pass to Aloisi who sealed the match with a show of clinical finishing.

Gold Coast were brought down back to earth - also on Sunday - away to Newcastle. The Jets, who are coached by Gold Coasts Jason Culinas dad, put in a very good performance which was capped off by a brilliant goal by Rooney. Rooney managed to draw the defender in before beating him and finishing it off with a powerful strike.

The teams are likely to cancel each other out, with Gold Coast racking up scores of 3-1 and 5-0 and Sydney more 1-0 and 2-0. Sydney like to work the opposition down with long balls from their defence - Keller has been greatly criticised for this - to the likes of Brosque up front. The amount of chances they make are of plenty, but the finishing could be better.

Gold Coast, with strike Shane Smeltz, have been on top goal scoring form and may be able to break the Sydney defence. Grand Finalist Adelaide came close but fell just short (1-0 loss) and you would be a brave man to argue their attack is more formidable then Gold Coast. The home crowd will undoubtedly make a massive contribution, but Sydney are great travellers and will be out in force.

Regardless, when the two teams walk out onto Skilled Park, all recent results will be forgotten and tempers will flare as Sydney and Gold Coast fight it out for a top of the table position.