Perth Glory coach Kenny Lowe says playing the Westfield FFA Cup final on a Saturday gives the occasion an extra special feel, harking back to English FA Cup finals.
Glory lost the 2014 FFA Cup final to Adelaide in a midweek slot at Coopers Stadium.
And while it was played in front of a sell-out crowd in Adelaide, it may not have felt like a traditional Cup final to those who grew up on English FA Cup finals.
But now with the 2015 FFA Cup final being played in a primetime Saturday night slot with no other A-League games in the evening, English-born Lowe says this time, the final feels that bit more special.
“It’s totally different to last year,” he told reporters at the official pre-Cup Final press conference at AAMI Park.
“Last year you recover then you’re straight into the game [A-League on the weekend].
“This week you’ve got the build up all during the week. So it feels like a proper Cup final.”
Lowe hasn’t finalised his starting line-up with injury clouds over Diego Castro, Gyorgy Sandor, Chris Harold and Mitch Oxborrow with knocks and niggles.
The coach said he will give all his players the chance to be available before making his final selection.
“It doesn’t matter who plays. It’s a Cup final and it’ll be an opportunity for other people,” he said.
“If it doesn’t quite pan out [with those players under injury clouds]. But we’ll come here to enjoy it.
“The pitch is magnificent and it’s going to be a super atmosphere. And we’re playing against a very, very good team, which you’d expect in any Cup final.
“And hopefully we can come out of it with a happy face.”
