Football
Steve Larkin 4y

Adelaide's Elsey out of FFA Cup final

Adelaide United's injured defender Jordan Elsey has been ruled out of Wednesday night's FFA Cup final with fitness doubts hanging over three key teammates.

Elsey (knee) will miss Adelaide's quest to win consecutive cup finals when they host Melbourne City.

Striker George Blackwood (hip), midfielder Mirko Boland (hamstring) and winger Ben Halloran (illness) face match-eve fitness tests after they missed the Reds' A-League loss to City on Sunday.

"It's obviously frustrating but at the same time it's a massive opportunity for people who come in," Adelaide goalkeeper Paul Izzo told reporters on Monday.

"It tests the depth and we will see how it goes.

"Benny is just an illness ... so he will get assessed tomorrow and see where he's at as well as the others."

Defender Yared Abetew was also expected to be sidelined by an ankle injury suffered during his A-League debut on Sunday, though his loss is covered by the return from suspension of regular right-back Ryan Strain.

The Reds are seeking their third cup title - they have reached the decider in three consecutive years as well as featuring in 2014.

"Just remembering the feeling of the joy and happiness really from last year's final, it's something you want to replicate," Izzo said.

Wednesday's final will be the second clash with City in four days - the clubs also played two friendlies in the A-League pre-season.

But Izzo doubted City's 2-1 league win would have any relevance in their mid-week tussle.

"It's not the start to the season that we wanted obviously but we're taking plenty of positives of the performances we have put in," he said.

"The new coach (Gertjan Verbeek) has come in and the style is a massive change compared to previous years, so we're still adapting.

"We don't have to panic.

"We showed in the second half (against City) that we are quite dangerous and we're still confident in ourselves.

"It's a grand final as well, anything can happen on the night."

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