Many will say that the team that finishes on top of the ladder is the real champion of the sport, not the finals champion who got a second chance.
Currently, with only three rounds remaining, the top ladder spot is what at least five clubs want more than anything. The booty of a Premiers Plate awaits.
Only three points divide the top five clubs, and with the ladder positions changing weekly, it’s anyone’s guess as to who will be hoisting the silverware come round 27.
Melbourne Victory stand tall at the top, but following straight behind is Perth Glory on equal points.
Both teams enter their round 27 matches tonight, Victory hoping to put past enough goals against bottom placed Newcastle Jets to help them later down the track.
Second and fifth on the ladder, Perth Glory and Sydney FC, had one of the juiciest Plate matches this round, with Perth Glory having more to prove, as just a fortnight ago the club’s season looked as though it was in free-fall.
Sydney FC doesn’t have the consistency it once had, with only one win in the last three matches, but it has a lot more to gain with three points to its name.
Brisbane Roar’s final hopes are hanging by a thread, a full six points shy of sixth place.
The team faces a huge uphill battle if it is to qualify, but it has one extra catch-up match to do so.
Roar takes on Adelaide United away today, just three days after its 3-1 Asian Champions League loss against Suwon Bluewings.
The demoralising loss and the huge travel miles the team has accrued won’t put it in a good place to take on a sometimes lethal United.
A well-rested United managed to take three points away from Sydney FC last weekend, and is in good stead to do it again.
Sixth placed Melbourne City will be thinking that it is at risk of being overrun by Roar and will be taking its match against Wellington Phoenix very seriously.
It has the home advantage this time, and is happy knowing that the former ladder leader has suffered successive 3-0 losses at home to Sydney FC and Melbourne Victory in its last two matches.
Seeing as the last three of the four matches between these two sides have ended in draws, City will be working hard on keeping a strong defence.
Former AEK player and Phoenix’s route to goal, Nathan Burns will be key in securing the win for the New Zealand team.
Premiers’ Plate dreams are over for Western Sydney Wanderers fans, who will most probably have to endure another shaky battle.
The team comes off the back of an ACL draw this week, making A-League team selection a little difficult for coach Tony Popovic.
The Wanderers come up against a flat-lining Central Coast Mariners, who are without a win in their last four matches and went down 6-1 to Brisbane Roar last week.