For the record, Western Suburbs beat the Rovers 4-1 in Wellington on June 7.
"We'll just have to look at where we sit now on the table because they are great side, Western Suburbs as well, so we've got to be on our mettle to make sure we finish on a high," veteran player Chris Greatholder said yesterday.
"We don't want to be the nearly boys because it'll be a disappointing way to finish the season, so it'll be a big game for us next weekend ... we'll try to put a smile on everyone's faces," Greatholder said.
"It'll be a shame if we finish fifth because I think we're better than that but we have to go out to prove that."
The Blues fancied a top-three finish to their season and had already earned their stripes after controversially losing 2-0 to Bay Island United in the Chatham Cup semifinal in Auckland on August 17.
But the cup of joy has become a chalice for tears for captain Danny Wilson and his men, who lost 7-4 to Wairarapa United the previous weekend after leading 4-1 at halftime.
Yesterday they showed promise against the Rangers early in the game but there was no arguing why the Valerio Raccuglia-coached side are 11 points ahead of Suburbs at the end of their campaign.
"They've got a few players missing today so that just goes to show how much strength and depth they've got," Greatholder said. "They had a chance to play one or two youngsters and even they looked very lively."
Greatholder felt the Rovers should have been up a couple of goals up in the first 15 to 20 minutes but the Rangers instead countered to take the lead.
"They took a stranglehold and were the better side for long periods.
"We let ourselves down but after halftime made a better fist of things but all in all we're very disappointed and the dressing room's very quiet, as you'd imagine," he said as the victorious Wellingtonians broke into a rendition of The Miramar Song in the changing rooms.
In the third minute of the game, a Wilson header clipped the crossbar from a cornerkick. But it was Miramar striker Sam Mason-Smith who drew first blood in the ninth minute from a ball left winger Henry Fa'arodo had threaded through the middle, beating goalkeeper Kyle Baxter for a 1-0 lead.
The Blues were stung into action from the kick off, levelling 1-1 a minute later with a Josh Stevenson goal from the edge of the 18m box past keeper Phil Imray.
In the 26th minute, the visitors snuck ahead from a pin-point cross from centreback Tim Schaeffers on the attacking third for Mason-Smith to tap the ball into the goal mouth for a 2-1 lead.
In the 35th minute, Mason-Smith brought up his hattrick after Wiremu Patrick received a through ball in the middle only to push it out wide right to the charging striker.
Mason-Smith dazzled with his footwork, dexterously reverse-dragging the ball with his right foot before drilling it with his left for a 3-1 lead.
He had another chance a minute later but sprayed it wide.
In the second half, the sides seemed content going through the motions, with referee Peter Linney stealing the thunder with five yellow cards although frustrated Blues fans' heckling didn't help.
However, the Rangers, who had a lion's share of possession, went up 4-1 after right winger Dominic Rowe challenged a 50-50 through pass from Fa'arodo but keeper Baxter fumbled as the ball rolled in for what can best be described as a soft goal.
In the 85th minute, the Blues pulled back a consolation goal, 4-2, after Welsh import Miles John pushed a deft cross not far from the right corner flag to find striker Angus Kilkolly for a crisp finish.
For Raccuglia, the victory was sweet and his team didn't lack motivation.
"Once we won the league and finished our celebrations we focused on bringing the shield back to Wellington," the Italian said, adding they left home yesterday morning with the attitude that they still had to win the league.
While he didn't know if or when the Rangers last held the challenge shield, he pointed out that when he started coaching his men had challenged for it and come away empty handed.
Raccuglia, who is mum about whether he'll coach in the ASB Premiership over summer, said it was an enjoyable winter with a "good bunch of guys" who made his work satisfying.
