The “Trifylli” is looking to come out of the international break with a bang as they aim to open their play-offs campaign with a massive upset win against their bitter rivals, Olympiacos, at their fortress.

Panathinaikos is set to face off with the Piraeus giants at “Georgios Karaiskakis” Stadium on Monday morning (AEDT) in the first round of the Greek Super League’s play-offs.

The Greens’ ambitions have shifted in recent weeks after bowing out of Europe and falling ten points behind in the league, with their next attainable target being to finish in second and secure a spot in the Champions League qualifiers for next season.

For Olympiacos, victory would go a long way to crushing any slim hope AEK, and Panathinaikos to a lesser degree, have of stealing the league trophy away from them.

Panathinaikos will no doubt wish to close out the 2024/25 season on a high note, meaning they must muster all their strength to get some bragging rights against their archenemy.

AEK hosts PAOK at “Agia Sophia” Stadium in the other championship play-off contest in what looms as a make-or-break game for the Thessaloniki club’s aspirations of a second-place finish.

Both teams have much to gain from a victory with Enosi desperate to stay just in range of Olympiacos and, at the very least, shore up their position as the runner-up.

PAOK, like Panathinaikos, has only one real goal in reach and that is to seize second from AEK to earn the Champions League qualifying round spot on offer.

The outcomes from both fixtures will provide an excellent idea of what we should expect from the remaining play-offs matchdays.

There is as much intrigue in the rest of the league as there is in the top with the relegation play-outs and the new fifth-eighth play-offs introduced this season.

The latter sees Aris go up against Atromitos, OFI and Asteras Tripolis in a fight for fifth place which, assuming Olympiacos wins the Greek Cup, would give them a spot in the Conference League qualifiers.

All points totals for each club have been halved, meaning Aris holds just a three-point lead over their respective challengers in what brings every team firmly into contention.

The opening games will see Asteras Tripolis host Aris and OFI face Atromitos in Crete on Sunday morning, with the results again likely to paint a picture of what is to come.

On the relegation play-outs side, Kallithea challenges Volos at home on Sunday morning in an excellent opener that could be hugely significant to both sides’ survival chances.

Only one point splits the two clubs with Kalltihea currently occupying second last (which is in the relegation zone).

A win for the Athenian team would completely reverse the situation while victory for the Magnesia side would give them a healthy four-point gap to work with.

Panetolikos contests with Levadiakos in what is largely a dead rubber game, though the “blue-greens” will be eager to put up a fight as they look to challenge the Agrinio side’s place atop the rest of the pack.

Last-placed Lamia makes the trip to face Panserraikos on Monday morning with the relegation-threatened outfit needing to get off to a winning start to boost their chances of avoiding the drop.

Greek Super League Play-offs/Play-outs Round 1 fixtures (AEDT)

OFI-Atromitos: 1.30am, Sun 30 Mar

Kallithea-Volos: 3.30am, Sun 30 Mar

Asteras Tripolis-Aris: 4.30am, Sun 30 Mar

Panetolikos-Levadiakos: 5.30am, Sun 30 Mar

Panserraikos-Lamia: 1am, Mon 31 Mar

AEK-PAOK: 3am, Mon 31 Mar

Olympiacos-Panathinaikos: 5am, Mon 31 Mar