There’s leaving things until the last minute – then there’s Sydney FC’s attempt to win the W-League premiers plate.
After having one hand on the trophy for weeks, Sydney have suffered a loss and a draw in back-to-back games to open up the race again.
Now the Sky Blues must win or draw against Melbourne Victory in the last game of the regular season on Wednesday to claim top spot, with the loser finishing third.
Current leaders Brisbane (25 points) will finish the season in second place, regardless of Wednesday night’s result between Sydney (25 points) and Victory (23).
“We’ve had two good opportunities to really nip it in the bud in regards to getting the premiership plate,” Sydney midfielder Clare Wheeler told AAP.
“Unfortunately we’ve left it down to the wire – in true form.
“But leading into the finals in this last game – playing a big game isn’t always a bad thing heading into semi-finals, to have that kind of pressure already.
“We’d love to already have (the plate) but we still have the opportunity to have it.
“We’re not just playing for a premiership, we’re playing for a home semi-final and also having the opportunity then to play for a home grand final as well.”
Wheeler, who joined from Newcastle in the off-season, is chasing her first piece of W-League silverware – and Sydney’s first premiers plate in 10 years.
Despite the magnitude of the rescheduled game, Wheeler won’t have much time to drum up nerves.
The 23-year-old will work from home during the day – as a financial assistance associate at Macquarie Bank – then drive the five minutes to Manly’s Cromer Park.
Sydney will be without Cortnee Vine (four goals and three assists in 11 games), who suffered a knee injury against Canberra last week while Victory are fit and firing.
Victory are coming off a 6-0 win over wooden-spooners Perth and could leap from fifth to first in the space of a week if they beat the Sky Blues.
“This is what we’re here for – we’re here to win things this year. Our main aim for this week is to go up to Sydney and win the thing,” coach Jeff Hopkins said.
“We’re not going up there just to make up the numbers – we’re going all in.”