Sydney Olympic coach Grant Lee says he has to make the best of a bad situation and get his team ready for not one but two crucial matches just two days apart.

An unlucky fixture means Sydney Olympic will face the NSW NPL grand final on Sunday against the ferocious Blacktown City, and pick itself up again on Tuesday to face Bentleigh Greens in the FFA Cup round of 16 derby.

Coach Lee admits he is baffled at the scheduling, and is annoyed the NPL NSW wasn’t able to foresee the problem.

“I’d love a little bit more space, it’s unfortunate they haven’t been able to accommodate us. I don’t know where the scheduling came out of,” he tells Neos Kosmos.

“We were the only Sydney side still in the FFA Cup that was able to play in the finals series, why they even put us on the 16th of September for the FFA
Cup I’ve got no idea.”

“No-one is willing to change the games for us.”

Bentleigh Greens has the benefit of a better fixture, after it played its final match of the NPLV on Friday.

Lee’s efforts in training have mostly focused on getting the team ready for the NSW NPL grand final. It’s the match he feels has the most to give the fans and a local championship will be the best motivation to his players.

“They’re both equally as important,” he says.

“I suppose from the club’s perspective they might say the FFA Cup because of the exposure, and it’s a national cup and the ability to come up against an A-League side.

“For me, playing in your own domestic competition, you’re in the grand final, it’s a very big game.”

He’s hoping the boys stay as focused as possible if they do get the win, and keep the celebrations to a minimum.

They earned their spot in the grand final through penalties but can’t rely on that in the final.

The job isn’t done yet.

Coming up against one of Sydney’s best clubs, and arguably one of the top clubs out of the A-League, Lee isn’t treading lightly.

He has a full strength squad to choose from, and won’t be afraid to demote and promote players quickly.

“It’ll be a good game, technically they’re very good, they’ve got some very good players, they’ve got a few ex-A-League players,” he says.

“They’re very hard to play against … but we should come out on top.”

One player keen to get a start will be former Blacktown player and now Sydney Olympic star, Harry Gaitazis.

He believes Olympic will be up for the task after seeing the transformation the team has gone through from the season’s start.

“Our squad has really come together, especially in the second half of the season, and I’m confident we will rise to the challenge of the final this weekend,” he said on the club’s website.

Early teething problems have faded as the team learned to play as a unit.

“There was some really good play, just not the consistent play and confidence and belief in each other [we needed],” Lee says.

At least the team won’t be travelling for its next match; it will be welcoming Bentleigh Greens to Belmore Sports Ground.

Bentleigh has struggled with form of late. It had one loss and one draw in the last two matches and the travel won’t be doing the team any good.

But the side can’t be underestimated, as it sits fourth on the NPLV ladder.

Blacktown Spartans vs Sydney Olympic
Kick-off: 4.30 pm, Sunday September 14
Sydney United Sports Area

Sydney Olympic vs Bentleigh Greens
Kick-off: 7.30 pm, Tuesday September 16
Belmore Sports Area