Auckland FC's Tommy Smith takes a team photo. Photo: Shane Wenzlick / www.photosport.nz
Sydney FC v Auckland FC
Kick-off: 7pm Saturday 12 April
Allianz Stadium, Sydney
Live blog updates on RNZ Sport
Auckland FC have barely moved off the top of the A-League ladder all season and with an 11-game unbeaten run and a five point lead over the chasing pack the league leaders have a simple outlook for the remainder of the regular season.
Do not drop their standards. Win games and secure the silverware.
Auckland have won as often as they have drawn a game since the start of the calendar year. Six wins, six draws and a loss since 1 January.
With four regular season games remaining coach Steve Corica wanted more in the win column.
On Saturday, Auckland are away to Sydney FC, a side on the cusp of playoff football. Currently all that separates Sydney from missing the post-season is goal difference.
The game against Auckland has become a must-win for Sydney but a mid-week Asian Champions League semi-final fixture against Lion City Sailors FC in Singapore could change who plays.
"They might change their team up a little bit. We don't really know what they're going to do with the team that's going to perform on Saturday but I said to the players it's about us what we want to achieve and how we want to play with and without the ball, whatever team they put out, we just need to be ready for it.," Corica said.
Each of Auckland's opponents for rest of the regular season - Sydney, Melbourne Victory, Perth Glory and Western United - will have a slightly different motivation when they face the team that has only lost twice in 22 games. Some will be aiming to topple the runaway leaders, others will be trying to avoid the wooden spoon.
"I'm not sure what the players are doing but obviously I'm aware of what's going on below us. But again, we're five points clear the jobs in our hand, really, if we get enough points, we've got four games, if we get the wins that we're speaking about it should be no problem [to get the Premiers Plate].
"It's going to be difficult though along the way teams are trying to get into the top six and trying to get as high as possible. And Western and Melbourne City are trying to finish top. It's up to us to perform when the pressure's on."
Midfielder Cameron Howieson said the team went into every game wanting to win and despite four draws in their last five games they were happy with the unbeaten run and still being top of the table. But he is keeping an eye on what other teams are up to.
"I think anyone would be lying if they said they weren't looking at other teams around them, that comes quite naturally. But we focus on ourselves."
Auckland has one of the best defensive records in the league, having let in 21 goals and scored 42 goals.
But Corica did not like for the team to concede goals, something he emphasised to his players, forward Max Mata said.
"Defense is going to win your championships and that's something that Steve says quite a lot," Mata said.
"It's never a good feeling when you concede goals. Most goals feel like they can be avoided but it's just the nature of the game you do concede some time. So trying to focus on how to nullify the opposition strengths and defense is always something that we are focused quite a bit on, as well as trying to score goals."
Corica did not want to look too far ahead but acknowledged in an unlikely situation the winner of the Premiers Plate could be decided in Auckland's last game of the regular season against Western United on 3 May in Melbourne.
"I hope it doesn't go that far, but you never know, it might do. It could go down to the wire, whatever it takes, really, for me, it doesn't matter if it goes to the last game, as long as we get we finish on top at the end of the season."
