Sydney FC vs Newcastle Jets Tips & Predictions - Sydney to retain spot inside top six

After losing over two-legs to Singapore club Lion City in one of the biggest moments in the club's history, Sydney must now turn their attention back to the A-League, where they are in a real dogfight to make the finals.

Ufuk Talay's side are currently clinging on to sixth spot on the ladder, but they may drop out of the top six before kick-off, with seventh-placed Adelaide entertaining Wellington on Friday night. It's simply a must-win game for Sydney, who will end their season with two games on the road. Newcastle are still mathematically in with a chance at the finals, but they would need to win all of their remaining fixtures and hope other results go their way. The Jets won't be pushovers - they managed six goals in the F3 derby vs Central Coast last week - but Sydney should have enough class to secure all three points at home.

These two sides have met just once so far this season, with Sydney coming back from 2-0 down in the last 15 minutes to earn a 2-2 draw in Round 12.

Sydney come into this clash unbeaten in 12 of their last 14 games, but they won't feel as if they are in strong form.

Tasked with a very winnable semi-final tie in the Champions League 2, Sydney stumbled when it mattered most and missed out on a chance to host the final, knocked out by Lion City despite winning Wednesday's second-leg 1-0 at home.

However, there's no time for Sydney to dwell on that defeat, with the finals race well and truly heating up in the A-League. The Sky Blues registered a 2-2 draw with ladder leaders Auckland in their last A-League outing, which followed a crucial 3-2 triumph on the road over fellow finals contenders Adelaide.

Talay could choose to rotate some of his squad, but there's no major injury concerns ahead of this contest for Sydney.

It's been a strong finish to the season for Newcastle, who enter this showdown unbeaten in nine of their last 11 games.

If not for blowing a 3-1 lead late against Macarthur and losing to lowly Wellington at home over the last month, the Jets would have a very realistic chance of making the finals.

However, that's not the case and while mathematically still possible, it would take a minor miracle for the Jets to leapfrog the likes of Macarthur, Adelaide and Sydney into sixth.

Newcastle will be full of confidence coming into this encounter after crushing rivals Central Coast 6-0 last week, with winger Clayton Taylor bagging himself three assists and a goal.

The Jets are expected to field a similar side to the one that steamrolled the Mariners last week.