Melbourne Victory vs Central Coast Mariners Prediction: Hosts to extend unbeaten run to seven games

Two of the most in-form clubs in the Australian A-League Men's, Melbourne Victory and Central Coast Mariners, face off against each other at AAMI Park this Saturday (06:10 GMT, TNT Sports 2). The hosts are unbeaten in their last six games (W3, D3), while the visitors undefeated in their last eight (W4, D4).

Below are my Melbourne Victory vs Central Coast Mariners predictions, alongside all the latest team news and match odds, as the Mariners look to do the double over their opponents, having triumphed 1-0 in Gosford on February 1.

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Team News

Jason Davidson is back for Melbourne Victory after missing last Sunday's 4-1 victory over Macarthur FC due to personal reasons, and he's joined in Arthur Diles' extended squad by Brendan Hamill, who has been out for the entire season so far with a knee injury.

Louis D'Arrigo (foot) and Jing Reec (unspecified) are sidelined, however.

Football Odds

Miguel Di Pizio, Christian Theoharous and Seth Clark (all unspecified) are out injured for Central Coast Mariners, whose head coach, Warren Moon, hasn't named skipper Trent Sainsbury or youngster Will Kennedy in his extended squad.

Melbourne Victory vs Central Coast Mariners Odds

Melbourne Victory are 4/11 to triumph on Saturday, implying a 73.3% probability of success, with Central Coast Mariners 11/2, or a 15.4% chance, and the draw offered at 7/2.

Double Chance & BTTS - Melbourne Victory or Draw & Yes @ 1/1

It's difficult to pick an outright winner on Saturday, given the unbeaten run both sides are on.

However, Victory, five points clear of the Mariners, on home soil and with a more talented squad, are rightly favourites for the three points, and if either team was to win, I'd back it to be them.

Only Adelaide United (20), who have played a game more, have picked up more points at home this season than Victory (18).

Today's Football Fixtures

The Mariners will back themselves to at least get on the scoresheet, though, having notched in seven of their last eight games, while Victory haven't kept a clean sheet in their last seven.

Booking Points Over/Under +42.5 - Over 42.5 @ 6/4

Victory's last four home games at AAMI Park have finished with at least five yellow cards and 50 booking points awarded.

The Mariners, meanwhile, saw 90 booking points amassed in their last away match at Macarthur FC, and there were 55 in January's reverse fixture with Victory as three yellows and one straight red were shown.

Four of the last five head-to-heads in the league have produced at least 50 booking points, too.