After an A-League Men grand final build-up distracted by off-field factors they can't control, Melbourne City and Central Coast hope to deliver a decider to remember on the pitch.
The lead-up to Saturday's decider has been overshadowed by ongoing ill-will regarding the Australian Professional Leagues' controversial decision to sell grand-final hosting rights to Destination NSW late last year.
That wasn't helped last month when Bayern Munich pulled out of a proposed match against the ALM All Stars - putting a hole in a planned 'festival of football.'
Subsequently, Friday evening's grand final party at Moore Park, which included legends' five-a-side matches and the presentation of both grand finalists somewhat fizzled as a stand-alone, albeit family friendly event.
During grand final week, Mariners skipper Danny Vukovic stressed he didn't support a Sydney-based decider, while City counterpart Scott Jamieson has referred to venue CommBank Stadium as Western Sydney's home ground.
While City missed out on a home decider, Central Coast's first berth in 10 years should deliver a strong - and likely very pro-Mariners crowd for a potentially cracking contest.
Rado Vidosic's City and Nick Montgomery's Mariners are well-matched and delivered some of the season's best football.
"Their previous two games (between) us and Melbourne City ... we saw two good teams that were brave and wanting to play," Montgomery said.
"Both played attacking football and I think it's going to be won and lost on the team that probably doesn't defend as well as the other team because there are good attacking players in both teams."
It could well come down to one Socceroos striker who has never won a major Australian final and another who was previously denied his opportunity to play in one.
League record goal scorer Jamie Maclaren has played in two A-League Men deciders and an Australia Cup final but lost all three.
"I haven't scored in a grand final yet so obviously it's in the back of your mind - you always want to score on the big occasions," he told reporters at the Dolan Warren Awards.
Central Coast's Jason Cummings was a new signing when he was controversially denied registration for last year's Australia Cup final, which the Mariners lost to Melbourne Victory.
"I never got to play - I was gutted with that, the last one," Cummings said.
"I've not played in a final in a while - I think the last one was 2016 Scottish Cup. That was my last final.
"It's what I thrive off, the big games. It's what you look forward to: the fans being there, the big occasion.
"It just gets me going - it gets me excited and hopefully I can turn up on the day, maybe score a goal and win the game."
