Canberra United captain Nicole Begg wants her side to use its challenging run home as a launching pad to a second W-League championship.
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United's title credentials will get a stern examination when it hosts Sydney FC in a top-four showdown at McKellar Park on Sunday.
Whoever grabs all three points will have one foot in the door to securing an all-important home semi-final, with Perth Glory having all but wrapped up the league championship.
Heading into this weekend's round, United was third on the table - just one point behind a depleted Sydney FC, which has six players, including dual-international Ellyse Perry, either injured or unavailable for the trip to Canberra.
United could not have asked for a tougher schedule to round out the season. It faces the three other teams in the top four - away to the Newcastle Jets next week and at the unfamiliar home ground of Viking Park in the last round against the Glory, along with the Brisbane Roar in Brisbane on November 29.
While United has endured an up and down season, Begg believes the side is capable of hitting its straps when it matters.
"There's some really tough games to finish off the season, but hopefully, if we keep improving we can use those games as a launching pad for the end of the season," she said.
"You can't ask for better preparation going into the finals; we've just got to get ourselves there now.
"If we can snag a few wins, then we'll get into the finals and anything can happen from there."
After the high of beating Melbourne Victory 1-0 at Etihad Stadium a fortnight ago, United was given a rude awakening when it needed a 90th-minute equaliser to snatch a share of the points against the Western Sydney Wanderers last week at home.
"We were really pleased we could end up with a point from that [Wanderers] game," Begg said.
"The best thing is we're improving our game in one aspect every week, and last week we started to control the game and keep possession a bit better."
Meanwhile, there is a makeshift look to the Sydney FC side. is out for four weeks with a liver injury, while Amy Harrison
"Since season one, Sydney have been one of the strongest teams in the competition and they've always had really strong competitors in their team," Begg said.
"Sitting in second suggests they won't be vulnerable.
SUNDAY: W-LEAGUE: Canberra United v Sydney FC at McKellar Park, 3pm. TV: Live on ABC1.
Canberra United squad: 1. Chantel Jones (gk), 2. Catherine Brown, 3. Julia De Angelis, 4. Kendall Fletcher, 5. Grace Field, 6. Caitlin Munoz, 7. Ellie Brush, 10. Grace Maher, 11. Michelle Heyman, 12. Sally Rojahn, 13. Nicole Begg, 14. Ashleigh Sykes, 16. Lori Lindsey, 20. Melissa Maizels (gk), 22. Stephanie Ochs.
Sydney FC squad:
