Melbourne Victory will relish a tough run of games that will be crucial to earning a spot in the upper echelon of the A-League Men, starting with a huge derby clash with Melbourne City.
Victory face City on Saturday, then play second-placed Western United on Wednesday before hosting Western Sydney Wanderers on Sunday week.
Fifth-placed Victory have plenty of ground to make up on the competition leaders but have games in hand.
"I'm glad we're talking about a big game against Melbourne City, a big game against Western United, a big game against Wanderers," coach Tony Popovic said.
"Western United is trying to become a big club, Melbourne City and Wanderers are big clubs, we're a big club and we want to be spoken about as a big club and we want that expectation.
"We feel we're on the right track to bringing that back, we haven't secured that quite yet.
"But these three games give us a chance to really cement our place on the table and be talked about as a big contender this year."
Victory haven't beaten City in the A-League Men since December 2019, with a dramatic 2-2 draw in their previous encounter late in 2021.
Robbie Kruse is awaiting scan results with fears he tore his ACL in Asian Champions League action on Tuesday, when Chris Ikonomidis picked up a hamstring complaint.
Meanwhile, City coach Patrick Kisnorbo conceded Mathew Leckie (groin) was unlikely to play.
Popovic delighted in Nick D'Agostino's first Socceroos call-up after a breakout season but Kisnorbo lamented the league's lack of international breaks.
City had four players called up for World Cup qualifying games against Japan and Saudi Arabia on March 24 and 30.
Leckie, Connor Metcalfe and Marco Tilio are away for both games while Jamie Maclaren is getting married and won't fly to Saudi Arabia.
City play Brisbane on March 23, Macarthur on March 26 and Wellington on April 1.
"What else do you say? We still play games in international windows," Kisnorbo said.
"I understand it's a big game, yes, players want to play for their country 100 per cent and I don't blame the players, I don't blame the national team.
"But when you're significantly the one that always is getting players taken away, for the right reason, it's hard. It's not the first time.
"Didn't they say last year would be the last time of games in international breaks?
"And here we are again talking about the same thing. It's like I waste my breath."
