Melbourne City's A-League Men finals berth could be sealed before they even take the field against Western United.
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But coach Aurelio Vidmar insists that can't come into his players' consideration as they try to turn their season into a winner in the final round.
Melbourne Victory host seventh-placed Western Sydney (34 points) at AAMI Park on Saturday night - and anything less than a Wanderers win will ensure sixth-placed City (36 points) finish in the top six.
"The message is to not even think about what's going to happen on Saturday night," Vidmar said in the lead-up to Sunday's clash between City and Western United.
"The message is thinking about how we are going to win this game regardless.
"We're better having the right mindset throughout the whole week, knowing you have to win.
"Yes, of course, they're playing before us on Saturday night and we will know before we get to the game. But the mindset is about coming into this weekend with a positive mindset about winning the game."
If Sydney FC draw with or lose to Perth and City win, they could also leap to fifth.
City have had a stuttering season but are coming good when it counts, with a resurgent Mat Leckie and playmaker Tolgay Arslan helping lift them into the finals places.
Vidmar knows his charges need to maintain that momentum if they are to make finals, and avoid being bundled out early.
"You don't want to put the handbrake on and we can't - we're not in a position to do that," he said.
"We have to go full steam ahead - we have over the last couple of months - and if we're deserving of a finals berth then we need to win this weekend.
"(We would) rather go into finals on a winning note rather than an insipid performance, and that's definitely not going to be the case."
Marco Tilio is still unavailable after a quad injury setback, while Callum Talbot (back spasms) and Scott Galloway (illness) appear unlikely to feature, meaning Steven Ugarkovic could remain at right-back.
Western United are playing for pride but have already avoided the wooden spoon after beating Perth Glory last week.
Australian Associated Press
