The Wanderers can secure a return to Finals football with just a draw against the Newcastle Jets on Saturday afternoon.
Use code WANDERERS20 to get discounted tickets for the away fixture.
Western Sydney are currently three points clear of seventh placed Adelaide – who have played a game more – meaning a point is enough to secure a top six spot.
Of course, they would love to return to winning ways and strengthen their claim for a top two place when they travel to the Hunter, as well as taking their unbeaten run to 10 games.
It is this run that has seen the Wanderers charge up the table in the latter half of the season, with their last defeat coming almost three months ago.
The Wanderers now sit in fourth and have a good chance of having a home Final, but will not want to rest on their laurels in the final two matches of the regular season.
They will also be desperate to make up for last week’s dramatic draw against Melbourne City, where they were pegged back from 2-0 down in controversial circumstances in their Final home game of the season.
It was the Nicolas Milanovic show early on as he scored a fantastic solo goal after just eight minutes, and his cross caused Kai Trewin to turn into his own net.
The contest was an even one, with both goalkeepers making very good saves, but Trewin would make up for his own goal by scoring twice, including once from the spot, to deny the Wanderers from going to third.
Alen Stajcic will hope his side can exert a bit more control in their game against the Jets, who they haven’t played since way back in round four.
Back then it was at CommBank Stadium, and the Wanderers comfortably won 4-1 to get their first win of the season.
Milanovic was the star of the show that night, scoring just the third hat-trick in Wanderers history, whilst Zac Sapsford also got on the scoresheet with a strike of the highest quality.
The Wanderers have come on leaps and bounds then, and will fancy themselves against a Jets side whose finals chances fell away last weekend.
It was a bitterly disappointing collapse from Newcastle against our crosstown rivals, as they let a two goal lead slip to lose 3-2, their third loss in five games.
They were hoping to harness the momentum from their stunning 6-0 win in the F3 derby a week earlier, though they will be looking to have a good result and performance in their final home match of the season.
It has been an inconsistent season for the Jets, winning just one of their first six to begin the campaign whilst also having a seven game unbeaten run through February and March to give their finals hopes a boost.
Coach Robbie Stanton has fought hard in tough circumstances at times, but it has been confirmed he will leave the club at the end of the season.
They still have dangerous players, with Eli Adams having nine goals for the season, whilst midseason signing Kota Mizununa has been transformational for them.
That said, they haven’t beaten the Wanderers since early 2022, with Western Sydney winning four and the other three games being draws.
All of the draws did come at McDonald Jones Stadium, though, including early last season where the Wanderers came back from two goals down to share the points in a 2-2 draw.
The Wanderers have an underwhelming record at the stadium, not winning there since 2017, but they will back themselves to get the three points and return to the Finals, creating an exciting end of the season for their fans.
