Melbourne Victory coach Kevin Muscat has deadpanned the prospect of an A-League derby to light up the finals, refusing the countenance the occasion until it's locked in.
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Third-placed finishers Victory complete their season against already eliminated Western Sydney on Saturday night at ANZ Stadium.
They have fallen short of a home semi-final and must settle for an elimination final clash with whichever team finishes sixth.
That will be City, unless they defeat Central Coast on Friday night and Perth also defeat Wellington with a combined margin of seven.
Both FFA - which is desperate for a big-stage occasion to start the finals, and also takes gate receipts from the post-season matches - and City are excited by the prospect.
City captain Scott Jamieson wants to play Victory as "the best way to answer a lot of critics" and teammate Luke Brattan believes City have "the mental edge" over last year's champions.
With little on the line in round 27, you could understand Muscat casting forward to the contest - as both team's fans are - but not the Victory coach.
"I don't really care about that game at the moment," he said.
"I know what needs to be done from now, until that game, that's our clear focus.
"It would be (an exciting game) ... but you know I haven't given any thought."
While the A-League championship remains up for grabs, there's also no focus on player contracts.
Keisuke Honda, James Troisi and Kosta Barbarouses are among the Victory names to come out of contract at season's end.
There's a particular interest around Honda, who has starred in Victory's midfield since inking a multi-million dollar marquee deal.
Muscat said the club hadn't opened discussions around a new deal for the Japanese international, who has made clear his intentions to retire after the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.
"Conversations will be had at the end of the season," he said.
"Nothing's happened. Anything's possible."
In-form utility Leigh Broxham is also off-contract, but it's unthinkable that the 13-season Victory man would leave the club for an A-League rival.
Against the Wanderers, Matt Acton is likely to return to goal.
Lawrence Thomas, who returned after a knee injury to play in Victory's 1-1 midweek draw with Guangzhou Evergrande, has reported soreness after his first match in a month.
Muscat said his internationals, rested for that clash, were all in line to return.
STATS THAT MATTER
* Victory have the wood over Western Sydney, they've won the last four clashes between the two sides and scored 12 goals in that stretch.
* After away losses to Sydney FC and Adelaide, should Victory lose, they'll have recorded their worst road run in four years.
* The match is likely to be the final clash for Western Sydney foreigners Oriol Riera (10 goals this season) and Alexander Baumjohann (57 fouls drawn this season).
Australian Associated Press
