The thrilling final round equation

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What a night ... the Sydney derby sets up a thrilling final round. Source: Gregg Porteous / News Limited

The penultimate round of the A-League has left us with a thrilling equation heading into the final week of the regular season, leaving the Premiers' Plate winner, spots No.5 and No.6 in the finals and the wooden spoon all up for grabs.

• 1. WESTERN SYDNEY WANDERERS (54 points, Goal Diff +17)
  v Newcastle (A)
  Need a win or a draw in Newcastle to secure the premier's plate in their debut season.
   
• 2. CENTRAL COAST MARINERS (51, +25)
  v Melbourne Heart (H)
  If the Wanderers lose, the Mariners can pinch the premier's plate on goal difference with a win against the Heart.
   
• 3. MELBOURNE VICTORY (41, +2)
  v Wellington Phoenix (A)
  Will finish third or fourth and have nothing to really play for in New Zealand ahead of their home elimination final.
   
• 4. ADELAIDE UNITED (40, +1)
  v Perth Glory (A)
  To finish third or fourth and host a home knockout final, regardless of the result of their Perth trip.
   
• 5. BRISBANE ROAR (32, +2)
  v Sydney FC (H)
  Hold their own destiny. Beat Sydney, and their title defence continues into the finals; lose, and they need both Perth and Newcastle to lose. If they draw and only one of Newcastle or Perth win, they could still sneak in.
  
• 6. SYDNEY FC (32, -8)
  v Brisbane Roar (A)
  Like Brisbane, masters of their own fate: beat the Roar and they make the finals. Lose or draw, and they rely on others, like the Roar, above.
   
• 7. PERTH GLORY (31, -2)
  v Adelaide United (H)
  Beat Adelaide at home and they're in the finals. Draw, and they're probably in - if Sydney are beaten. Lose, and they're out.
   
• 8. NEWCASTLE JETS (31, -12)
  v Western Sydney (H)
  Must defeat Western Sydney and hope Sydney and Brisbane draw, and Perth lose, to steal a finals spot. If they draw, but Perth win and Sydney get thumped by four or more goals, they can also sneak in! 

Let's put personal preferences for a premiership or a championship aside for a minute – whatever your choice, the race is well and truly alive. 

Race for the Premiers' Plate

While it would've been a sight to behold to see Parramatta Stadium erupt with a Premiers' Plate win, the Wanderers' 1-1 draw with Sydney FC, followed by Central Coast Mariners' 2-0 triumph against Adelaide United at Hindmarsh Stadium, means the race for top spot goes all the way to the final round. 

Tony Popovic's men have to keep their composure and seal the deal on Friday night at Newcastle. Simply, if they don't lose – something they haven't done in 11 games - the trophy heads to Wanderland. Otherwise the ball returns to the Mariners' court on Saturday night.  

But after such a dream run, Popovic's medical staff will have a tricky time juggling their ward this week. Shinji Ono (groin), Adam D'Apuzzo (foot), Aaron Mooy (medial strain), Jerome Polenz (quad strain) and Michael Beachamp (quad) all have niggles to contend with. 

After a week mired by off-field financial problems and talk that the Premiers' Plate race was all but over, Central Coast's win on the road showed once again how well Graham Arnold's side performs when the chips are down. 

"Absolutely phenomenal," Fox Sports football expert Mark Bosnich said on Sunday Shootout. 

"Tough times don't last but tough people do. They are now going into the last week … a lot of pressure now on Western Sydney Wanderers, 

"(Central Coast) like when things are all stacked against them. Arnie instils a siege mentality and they respond to that."

Spots No.3 and No.4

Melbourne Victory and Adelaide United have had a mortgage on these two spots; in fact, tickets go on sale for the first week of the finals on Monday morning. 

Melbourne Victory will host the first final on Friday night at Etihad Stadium, while Adelaide United will enjoy a home final on Sunday at Hindmarsh Stadium 

But there's a lot of work to be done after two lax performances by both sides with little to play for this weekend. 

		P	W	D	L	GD	Pts
1	Western Sydney	26	17	3	6	17	54
2	Central Coast	26	15	6	5	25	51
3	Victory	26	12	5	9	2	41
4	Adelaide	26	12	4	10	1	40
5	Brisbane	26	9	5	12	2	32
6	Sydney	26	9	5	12	-8	32
7	Perth	26	9	4	13	-2	31
8	Newcastle	26	8	7	11	-12	31
9	Heart	26	8	3	15	-8	27
10	Wellington	26	7	6	13	-17	27

Ange Postecoglous fumed after Victory's loss to Perth, saying: "There were too many players that wanted a comfortable afternoon at the football.

"I won't accept it.

"Who do we want to be and what standard do we want to set?

"I didn't see … footballers fighting for their lives tonight.

"We had players missing and maybe they thought we could accept defeat ... we won't." 

Of Adelaide United, Bosnich said: "Must be a massive worry for Valkanis and his coaching staff … we've seen them start poorly in recent weeks. 

"Once you give quality sides that opportunity, that type of start, and you play catch-up football, it's very difficult for you … you can't afford to start like that." 

Victory were missing their 'big three' - Mark Milligan, Archie Thompson and Marco Rojas - but both team will want to re-gain form and momentum ahead of a do-or-die final. 

Final play-off spots, No.5 and No.6

Advocates of a finals series, speak up now. The top-six structure has us set up for a pulsating weekend.

Perth were superb against the underwhelming Victory outfit on Saturday, with some free-flowing football in the front third that re-enforces why Alistair Edwards was in such high demand at nib Stadium. 

The Glory know all about finishing the season with a wet sail after last year's grand final run and if they win on the weekend, they're in, which would cap a remarkable return to form since Ian Ferguson's departure.

Their contributions this week included Danny Vukovic's phenomenal display between the sticks, which earned him Bozza's Save of the Week gong, while Josh Risdon and Chris Harold stepped up when needed with two goals right from the top drawer. 

Sydney FC were arguably the better side in the Sydney derby on Saturday night until Brett Emerton's send-off.

Their stoic final half-hour means they're locked in a winner-takes-all State of Origin showdown with Brisbane Roar to kick off the round on Thursday night. 

But don't rule out the Jets, either. They can play the ultimate party-pooper role by overshadowing Western Sydney to trump their rivals for a spot in the six. 

Wooden Spoon

Melbourne Heart's deplorable away record means they'll be hoping Wellington Phoenix lose at home to Melbourne Victory, otherwise they'll have to beat the Mariners on the road to avoid the spoon – and a sad end to John Aloisi's debut season after being in finals contention for most of the season. 

Golden Boot

Daniel McBreen's opener against Adelaide United took him to the top of the charts again with his 16th.

Jeremy Brockie is on 15, Marco Rojas 14 and Besart Berisha and Alessandro Del Piero on 13.

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