Roar fancy their chances

THOMAS Kristensen believes Brisbane Roar can create history by becoming the first team from outside the top two to win an A- League grand final.

Following three successive losses from rounds 14 to 16, the Roar have hit back, acquiring 19 points from their following nine A- League matches to have moved into the top six with two weeks of the regular season remaining.

Scalps in that nine- game period have included already crowned premiers Sydney FC and perennial heavyweights Melbourne Victory, both away from home, as well as finalsbound Adelaide United.

While Brisbane’s performances in their past two matches against the competition’s worst two teams – Wellington Phoenix and Central Coast Mariners – have been average at best, the Roar picked up four points from a possible six to displace Western Sydney Wanderers from the top six.

The Roar – 1- 0 weekend winners over the Mariners – can cement a finals berth for an eighth successive year by beating the seventh- placed Wanderers at ANZ Stadium on Saturday night.

When the teams met at the same venue in December, Brisbane won 2- 0.

“We will be a team that other teams wouldn’t want to meet in the finals,” 34- year- old Danish midfield enforcer Kristensen said.

“If you make the top six, you’ve deserved it, and if you don’t, you’ve not deserved it. It’s a 27- game season, so you can’t say you were unlucky if you don’t make it.”

Since the start of the ALeague in 2005, only teams that finished first or second in the regular season have gone on to win the grand final regardless of whether it has been a top- four or top- six finals.

“It’s only one and two that normally go and win it ( the grand final), but one year has to be the first where a team ranked lower is going to do it,” Kristensen said.