Finishing third in the A-League might put Melbourne City on the road to a potential semi-final clash with neighbours Melbourne Victory, but that is not why coach Michael Valkanis is treating his team's last game of the season on Sunday against Perth Glory as a "mini grand final".
A win in Perth would secure third place, and with it an almost certain place in the Asian Champions League qualifying round next year – a target that City's Manchester-based owners have made a high priority.
Melbourne City head coach Michael Valkanis (centre) says everything is about Asia.Credit: Getty Images
"Everything is about Asia. It's important that we finish third. It's a grand final because we want to qualify for Asia," Valkanis stresses. "If we can lock something in nice and early before finals, fantastic."
Glory has 36 points, City and Brisbane 39.
Their chances of Glory leapfrogging City are slim as they would have to win this game by four goals to achieve the required swing in goal difference to topple the Melbourne side.
But a win by a slightly smaller margin – if Brisbane stumble against Wellington – could see them sneak into fourth spot on goal difference over the Queenslanders.
City travels west with a full squad, key defender Michael Jakobsen showing no ill effects from his return to first team action last weekend after a long absence.
"Jakobsen has trained really well this week. He came up good from the game and is looking forward to another," Valkanis said.
"There's been a good energy around the place. Everyone's been out on the training track and competing for positions. We've been really focused on this last game. "It's a mini grand final. It's a final before the finals start."
City has a poor record in Perth but that is of no consequence now, Valkanis argues.
"I am not bothered about the history or what results have been there in the past or what sort of form we've had away from home..
"We have had two draws with Perth this season. Both of them we should have come out as winners. Having analysed both those games recently we created enough chances to win more than two games.
"We have to make sure we play our style and at the same time rectify some of the mistakes made the last time we met."
Perth is a team chock full of big players who can also break quickly and cause problems in transition.
"They are a threat going forward. They are a very direct team. They rely a lot on Castro as well," the City boss says. "The more we play in our attacking half and the more we keep the ball it'll be a bigger advantage."
Both teams will be in a strange position as they will know the outcome of Brisbane's game before they kick-off, which could affect this game dramatically.
Like all coaches, Valkanis would rather a simultaneous season finale.
"It would be nicer if everyone played at the same time and you just concentrated on the game itself and on yourself," he said.
"Depending on the result it could put pressure on you the other way (but) it could make the players relax a bit as well.
"I'm sure they'll all be knowing what the result is. It's more about getting mentally right and doing our job and not the results that have gone on."