The Wellington Phoenix have been handed no favours in their last-ditch bid to make the A-League playoffs.
Elsewhere often-decisive last round matches in major leagues are played concurrently but Football Federation Australia have split the 21st round over Friday, Saturday and Sunday, handing Ricki Herbert's team the shortturnaround, while their opponents Melbourne Victory have the advantage of an extra two days to prepare. They are also at home.
And, if the Phoenix beat the odds and Melbourne on Friday (10pm kick-off), they then must wait until the last ball of the regular season is kicked on Sunday night in Gosford to learn their fate.
Given their poor for and against record (minus six), the Phoenix have to beat Melbourne and then hope Adelaide United beat the Central Coast Mariners.
That match could also be decisive in finding the minor premiers.
Adelaide go into the final round level on points with Melbourne but with a one goal advantage. If the Phoenix beat Melbourne the Victorians would remain on 35 points. But by the time the match kicks off on the Central Coast, Queensland Roar, at home to Perth on Saturday, could have edged a point clear of Adelaide who would need to win away to clinch the title.
The Phoenix can expect no favours when they run on to the Telstra Dome pitch.
A crowd of 24,003 turned up to watch the Victory beat Central Coast in Friday's opening game in round 20.But for more than an hour their cheers were not enough to lift the home side.
In Sunday's other game Sydney host the Newcastle Jets. A win for Sydney would take them to 26 points and, should the Phoenix lose, ahead of the Wellington side in fifth place on goal difference.
The golden boot race is wide open. Shane Smeltz, with 12 but in a drought in recent weeks, still holds a one-goal lead over Danny Allsopp and Matt Simon (Central Coast).
