Neither team will have a genuine familiarisation with the pitch at Adelaide Oval given the field won't be prepared for football until match day. An AFL match on Saturday means the grass will remain long and the field unmarked during Friday evening's training session. Notoriously hard and quick for football, the venue could prove decisive for two teams that like to play a possession-based style of football. With little time to become acquainted with it come kick-off, whoever adapts first will likely lift the trophy.

The target men

Both clubs' resurgence this season coincided with that of their two pillars up front. Brendon Santalab has shaken off the super-sub tag to become top scorer and starter for the Wanderers. Bruce Djite overcame a goal drought to his his career-best form this season, scoring freely with both feet and from distance. Both are enjoying hot streaks in front of goal of late, Djite with nine goals in his past 10 games, Santalab with six in as many. Different in style, near equal in substance, don't be surprised to see both on the scoresheet.

The flair men 

Are there more exciting match-ups than those who play off the shoulder, between lines and with an abundance of pace? The Wanderers' Romeo Castelen appears likely to be playing in his last game for the club on Sunday and is out to make sure it's not one to forget. A hat-trick last week against Brisbane Roar led the club to the decider, while Adelaide's danger men Bruce Kamau and Sergio Cirio will be out to add the Wanderers to the long list of backlines they've punished so far. 

Danger man: Bruce Kamau. Photo: Getty Images

The home crowd

South Australians are a parochial bunch and love few things more than Adelaide Oval, especially on the big occasions. A crowd of 53,000 mostly Adelaide fans will spur the hosts on and provide a difficult test for the Wanderers, who will only have about 4000 of their own in attendance. Crowds can influence referees and get into rival's minds. Only one interstate team in 10 previous grand finals has walked away with the A-League ring and that required the lottery of penalties. The Wanderers know the odds and history books are stacked against them in this regard, but few teams love a challenge more than Western Sydney.

The Latin maestros 

Argentinian youth international Marcelo Carrusca is one of the best imports to have ever played in the A-League and reaches his best when the nimble Spaniard is Isaias Sanchez is in tow. That battle against the Wanderers' industrious Dimas Delgado and the pass-master Andreu Guerao looms as the most entertaining for the football purists. The quartet in the middle of the park are the backbone of both sides' fluid football styles and the men both coaches will be counting on to lead them to victory.

Likely teams

Adelaide United: Galekovic; Marrone, McGowan, La Rocca, Goodwin; Carrusca, Isaias, Mauk; Kamau, Djite, Cirio.

Western Sydney: Redmayne; Neville, Alberto, Topor-Stanley, Jamieson; Dimas, Andreu, Nichols; Castelen, Santalab, Bridge.