Sydney FC could yet stumble into A-League finals - NEWS.com.au

Sydney FC players celebrate their win over the Mariners. Picture: Mark Evans Source: The Daily Telegraph

It's getting to the stage of the season when numbers get crunched - possible points totals, putative goal differences.

So here's a statistic to illustrate the stakes at play at Allianz Stadium.

Mathematically (and perfectly feasibly) Sydney FC could be in the top six or 10th by midnight tonight. Whether that demonstrates a league that rewards mediocrity, or one where the balance of power is effectively kept in equilibrium by the salary cap, largely depends on the mood you got up in this morning.

But if the prospect of leapfrogging several opponents doesn't concentrate the mind of those preparing to don the sky blue, then nothing will.

After all, Newcastle have to go to the league leaders and Perth must host Ange Postecoglou's revitalised Melbourne Victory. Comfortable home wins for Sydney and the Mariners could make a pivotal difference to goal differences as well as points.

If Sydney's fans (and players) are tempted to rue round six's home loss to Melbourne Victory even more keenly in such tight circumstances, they might be better advised to look only upwards and onwards.

The confidence instilled by the almost ludicrously unlikely defeat of Melbourne Heart last weekend will vanish as quickly as it appeared if Wellington Phoenix come to town and carry off the spoils.

The fixture list could hardly be more accommodating either - the one side below Sydney followed by three games of which two are against teams immediately above them. If ever there was a time to stumble into form, it's now.

The portents aren't overly encouraging. Only once this season in 16 rounds have Sydney won consecutive games (and not since 2009 have they won three in a row).

But again, it's either a millstone or an opportunity. The Sky Blues must decide which. If they do make a late run to the finals, it won't be because they suddenly become a cohesive unit playing superlative football.

It will be because the experience and force of personality of Del Piero, Emerton, Culina and now Griffiths produces enough opportunities in attack, and sufficient defiance in defence. But for now there is hope.

"It smells like a football club again," as one club figure says of the environment since Frank Farina took over.

Whether it's that aroma lingering in our nostrils tonight, rather than the smell of fear, will tell us everything about where the season is heading.