Nothing short of a win for Melbourne City over Central Coast Mariners on Thursday night at AAMI Park will be acceptable for a club with huge ambitions, anxious to add league and championship glory to its FFA Cup triumph earlier this season.
Should the fact that interim coach Michael Valkanis and defender Osama Malik evoked the "mathematically possible" angle to their pursuit of the top two concern their supporters?
More of the same: Bruno Fornaroli scored from the penalty spot when City last played the Mariners in December.Credit:Getty Images
At this stage, probably not given there are 12 games remaining in the regular season.
But it is abundantly clear that City, who are nine points behind second-placed Melbourne Victory and 14 behind unbeaten league leaders Sydney FC, do need to get a wriggle on. As Malik said while counselling youngsters on a week-long leadership programme at the club's City Football Academy, the team cannot now rely on others.
Window closed: City boss Michael Valkanis won't be adding to his squad during the January transfer window.Credit:Getty Images
"The top two is our goal. We have only just passed the halfway mark. There's a lot of games to be played and points to be won. We are still confident," Malik said.
"We are in a position where we can't really rely on other results and just focus on ourselves. I think it's realistic [to finish in the top two]. As long as it's mathematically possible that's what we are striving for," Malik said.
If City are to mount a late season charge they are likely to do so with the players they have on their roster now.
Valkanis said the club was not looking to make any new signings in the January window, although now first-choice goalkeeper Dean Bouzanis recommitted to the club by inking a new three-year deal earlier in the week.
One of those who could play a critical role in the drive to the line and the finals is Argentinian utility Nicolas Colazo, brought in on loan from Boca Juniors in the winter.
The skilful left-sided Colazo has had a disrupted preparation, missing several matches at the start of the campaign after an operation for a perforated ear drum, but he has the class and big game know-how to be an effective contributor in a number of positions.
Valkanis was still upset that the "goal" Colazo scored against Adelaide United last week had been disallowed, and claimed that referee Jonathan Barreiro had apologised to him for ruling out the first-half strike at Hindmarsh which, had it been given, would have put City back in front and increased the pressure on the Reds.
The Argentine received Luke Brattan's through-ball and rounded Eugene Galekovic to slot home, only for the linesman's flag to rule the strike out. Replays suggested Colazo was almost fully onside, with only his outstretched hand moving beyond the last defender.
"Colazo's goal was a 100 per cent goal. We would have gone in half-time 2-1 up," Valkanis said.
"It was a beautiful penetrating pass that beat two lines. It would have been a different game against a team that had their backs to the wall.
"We spoke to the refs and we got an apology for it, but that doesn't really help. I still feel that was a clear goal."
Valkanis has had two matches in charge for a win over Western Sydney and a loss to the defending champions. He feels that his record should be better, and that Colazo can help propel City to a higher level of performance.
"Colazo has done very well. He needs to play with that penetration and belief he had and that freedom, playing those balls in behind that he did [when he first arrived]. He had his time out, he lost momentum and a little bit of form and that rhythm he had but he is a class player, he will find it."
Valkanis knows that his side cannot afford to take it easy against a Mariners team that has shown itself to be far more competitive this season than last.
The two teams met in December and Central Coast almost pulled off a shock, taking a 2-1 lead late in the game only for Bruno Fornaroli to grab City a point from the penalty spot.
"The Mariners play a good brand of football and have been unlucky not to get some better results. At the Central Coast they tried to press us and play their game.
"Central Coast will have their moments. In controlled possession they will try to hit us with their fast wingers in [Connor] Pain and [Fabio] Ferreira."
Young defender Ruon Tongyik has won plenty of praise for his performances since making his debut against Sydney in mid-December but Valkanis hinted that he may give him a spell against the Mariners.
"I think Ruon has done an exceptional job, but he's a young player who is going to need to have a bit of a rest. He's been through stress, some big games, he's played against Melbourne Victory in the derby, against Sydney, he's gone back to his home town in Adelaide."
Should Tongyik be rested Valkanis has plenty of options to play at the back, including Malik. The latter started against Adelaide in a holding midfield role but has the versatility to play in the centre of defence alongside Michael Jakobsen if required.
*City has this week stepped up its Young Leaders Training programme, bringing 90 youngsters through a series of exercises designed to educate and empower them to use football as a social tool in their communities.
The week-long program offers 16 to 23-year-old community leaders practical and theoretical training, with classroom and on-the-pitch workshops on leadership, life-skills and practical planning at the club's City Football Academy.
The youngsters were nominated to participate in the program by community groups in Sunshine, Fitzroy, Bundoora and Fawkner.
The programme began in Manchester, the base of City's parent company, the City Football Group, in 2015, and offshore classes have been run in Kuala Lumpur, Abu Dhabi and Cape Coast with the Melbourne training the first ever in Australia.
On Thursday at Gosch's Paddock, the Young Leaders will deliver a football festival as a curtain-raiser for City's game against the Mariners at nearby AAMI Park.
Michael Lynch, The Age's expert on soccer, has had extensive experience of high level journalism in the UK and Australia. Michael has covered the Socceroos through Asia, Europe and South America in their past three World Cup campaigns. He has also reported on Grands Prix and top class motor sport from Asia and Europe. He has won several national media awards for both sports and industry journalism.