It all comes down to this weekend ... will Del Piero and co prevail? Source: Gregg Porteous / News Limited
Frank Farina knows exactly how this will feel, how the permutations could work, what the players will be thinking. He has, of course, been here before.
- 1. WESTERN SYDNEY WANDERERS (54 points, Goal Diff +17)
v Newcastle (A)
Need a win or a draw in Newcastle to secure the premier's plate in their debut season.
- 2. CENTRAL COAST MARINERS (51, +25)
v Melbourne Heart (H)
If the Wanderers lose, the Mariners will pinch the premier's plate on goal difference with a win against the Heart.
- 3. MELBOURNE VICTORY (41, +2)
v Wellington Phoenix (A)
Will finish third or fourth and have nothing to really play for in New Zealand ahead of their home elimination final.
- 4. ADELAIDE UNITED (40, +1)
v Perth Glory (A)
To finish third or fourth and host a home knockout final, regardless of the result of their Perth trip.
- 5. BRISBANE ROAR (32, +2)
v Sydney FC (H)
Hold their own destiny. Beat Sydney, and their title defence continues into the finals; lose, and they need both Perth and Newcastle to lose. If they draw and only one of Newcastle or Perth win, they could still sneak in. - 6. SYDNEY FC (32, -8)
v Brisbane Roar (A)
Like Brisbane, masters of their own fate: beat the Roar and they make the finals. Lose or draw, and they rely on others, like the Roar, above.
- 7. PERTH GLORY (31, -2)
v Adelaide United (H)
Beat Adelaide at home and they're in the finals. Draw, and they're probably in - if Sydney are beaten. Lose, and they're out.
- 8. NEWCASTLE JETS (31, -12)
v Western Sydney (H)
Must defeat Western Sydney and hope Sydney and Brisbane draw, and Perth lose, to steal a finals spot. If they draw, but Perth win and Sydney get thumped by four or more goals, they can also sneak in!
The Roar hosting Sydney FC on the final day of the regular season at Suncorp Stadium, with both sides locked on the same number of points, chasing the last of the finals positions? If it sounds familiar, it is. Go back five years and it was the very same.
Farina was involved that day too, but sat on the home bench. In the end it was a miserable night, as Terry Butcher's Sydney held on for a draw that got them into the finals at their opponents' expense.
And here we are again. It's the magnificence of sport, that a season can simultaneously be a slow-burn epic and a 90-minute pot-boiler. Sydney under Farina have dragged themselves from the floor, yet everything that has come before will count for nothing if they fall at this final hurdle.
In truth there is slightly more complexity to the table this time, for Sydney could lose and still be in the finals, or get a draw and be knocked out. If they win, they can celebrate fifth spot and watch the rest of the weekend's games with their feet up.
A draw means that, thanks to Brisbane's better goal difference, the best Sydney could do is finish sixth and for that to happen, neither Newcastle nor Perth must win their games at home to Western Sydney and Adelaide on Friday and Saturday respectively. If Sydney lose, then so must Perth, and Newcastle at best get a draw, for Sydney to make the top six.
No wonder nerves of steel become a coach's greatest weapon at this time of year. For eight teams out of 10 in the league there is everything to gain this weekend, and everything to lose.
"We all know there are three grand finals this weekend, and this is the first," admitted Farina. "Whoever wins out of us and Brisbane is guaranteed a place in the finals.
"Given where we were at one stage, you'd take it coming down to this. We're in the same position as the other three teams (chasing fifth and sixth); the only way it could have been better is if it was at home."
That barbed reference to Sydney's away record points up the size of the task - eight defeats and only two victories in 13 games on the road this season.
They must do it without Lucas Neill and Brett Emerton, ruled out by injury and suspension respectively, and knowing that a win is more or less essential.
"It's not rocket science. We have to score to win, and not concede at the same time," Farina said. "We've been reasonably balanced in the last three weeks, playing the top three teams. We have conceded in two of those, but we'll have our plan of attack.
"We've played the last 18 or so rounds under pressure. We were dead last, and every game has been a pressure situation for the players to deal with.
"They know they have to get results, and to be in this position from where they were is pretty good. In terms of pressure, I haven't seen anyone succumb to it - more to the point they've thrived on it."
Nor have Brisbane's struggles this season given their former coach much comfort.
"Brisbane were never a bad side - in recent years maybe a certain amount of luck went their way, and this year maybe it hasn't," he said
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