Melbourne Victory have guaranteed the A-League Men top three will be an all-Victorian one but still hold out hope of snatching the premiers plate from under the noses of Melbourne City and Western United.
Victory's 3-1 win over Wellington on Friday night propelled them, at least temporarily, into second place on 45 points, a point behind City and a point ahead of United.
While Victory just have Sydney FC away left to play, their cross-town rivals have games in hand. United play Central Coast, Newcastle and Adelaide away while City are still to face Perth away and Wellington at home.
But Victory coach Tony Popovic was happy to have some of the necessary points already in the bank.
"(We've) put pressure on the other two. Which is what we were trying to do," Popovic said.
"We've gone 14 games undefeated so that's why we've managed to do that, so credit to the players to put us in position. We've got one game to win. We've got to beat Sydney FC.
"That's what we can control. Now we've put pressure on the other two. But we want to win the last match. It will be a big game, against Sydney.
"As I'm realising, it's a big rivalry between Sydney FC and Melbourne Victory and hopefully we'll get some good support that flies to Sydney and can hopefully help us get another three points."
Down in the doldrums for two seasons, Victory turned to Popovic last year in a desperate bid to restore some of their former glory.
The former Western Sydney and Perth Glory mentor has already delivered an FFA Cup and a return to the finals, with jostling for the premiers plate a bonus.
"I'm just happy that we're amongst it," he said.
"It's where we want to be, challenging for honours. We've put ourselves in a position where we give ourselves a chance again.
"That's what this club has always been accustomed to.
"We're happy we're in this position, there's more work to be done and I believe that's the attitude that everyone within the club will take."
