Round 6 of the Australian Championship will determine the remaining five Quarter-Finals places in the competition.
Three teams have already confirmed their places in the final eight, and there are plenty of permutations at play to decide who plays knockout football.
Read on to discover what is at stake in the final round of group stage action.
Moreton City Excelsior v South Melbourne
Date: Friday 14 November
Kick-off: 7:35 pm (AEDT)
Venue: Perry Park
The current top two teams of Group A get the final regular round of the Championship underway on Friday night.
Moreton City Excelsior need just a point to guarantee their spot in the Quarter-Finals after their last-ditch draw with Sydney Olympic in Round 5.
After falling two goals behind, Joe Scott grabbed one back on the stroke of half-time, which was his fourth goal of the tournament.
Excelsior then conceded again, meaning they needed two goals in the final half hour to rescue anything from the match.
Seita Murai’s well-taken penalty soon after and Luka Jankovic’s header in stoppage time snatched a crucial point for the side in a heated encounter with Olympic.
The draw means City are unbeaten in their last two matches, following two consecutive losses to start the tournament.
Currently three points ahead of Olympic, a point against South Melbourne on Friday will be enough to see them into knockout football.
South Melbourne remain the only team to have a perfect record in the Championship, following their win against Broadmeadow Magic over the weekend.
Manny Aguek grabbed his third goal of the tournament, before Jordon Lampard also added a third to his tally in the second half.
Another win on Friday would send South Melbourne into the Quarter-Finals as the solitary outfit to register six wins from six matches.
Both teams have ample motivation to take the points on Friday, as they look ahead to knockout football.
Avondale v Preston Lions
Date: Saturday 15 November
Kick-off: 1:00 pm (AEDT)
Venue: Avenger Park
The early kick-off on Saturday features two NPL Victoria rivals, with each targeting their respective goals to finish the group stage.
Avondale sewed up the top spot in Group C with a narrow victory against NPL NSW Premiers NWS Spirit.
Bruno Fornaroli continued his scoring ways, with a fourth goal in the tournament in first-half stoppage time.
While Avondale have already secured top spot in their group, they could remain as one of only three teams currently unbeaten in the competition if they avoid defeat on Saturday.
Preston held on to second place in the group in Round 5, playing out a 0-0 stalemate with Canberra Croatia.
The result was Preston’s second scoreless draw of the competition, having drawn with Avondale back in Round 3, and only have one win to their name.
Lions need three points on Saturday to guarantee a spot in the Quarter-Finals, as Spirit and Canberra could still overtake them in Round 6.
If Spirit and Canberra draw, a narrow defeat to Avondale would be enough for Preston on goal difference.
These teams could not be separated earlier in the campaign, but each have their desires for the points this Saturday to push on in the competition.
Wollongong Wolves v Marconi Stallions
Date: Saturday 15 November
Kick-off: 3:15 pm (AEDT)
Venue: Collegians Sports Centre
In the late kick-off on Saturday, Wollongong Wolves host Marconi Stallions with a slender chance of making the Quarter-Finals.
The Wolves were held to a frustrating draw with Heidelberg United in Round 5, after taking the lead twice.
Alex Masciovecchio put Wollongong in front early, before captain Lachlan Scott re-established that lead in the second half.
On both occasions after scoring, the side quickly conceded to Heidelberg and had to settle for a point.
Marconi’s win away at South Hobart leaves Wollongong three points away from their opponents on Saturday, but the Stallions have a far superior goal difference.
Luke Wilkshire’s team would need to win by a significant margin to overtake the second-placed Marconi.
Scott’s goal against United took his tally to three, following the Wollongong striker’s brace against South Hobart in Round 4.
The Stallions' 2-0 win against South Hobart was their third victory of the tournament, extending their unbeaten streak to four matches.
Anton Mliranic and Matej Busek got the goals for Marconi, as they all but confirmed their place in the Quarter-Finals.
Marconi made light work of Wollongong when the teams met in Round 3, securing a 3-0 victory.
Peter Tsekenis’ side are still capable of taking out top spot in Group B, if they win and Heidelberg drop points to South Hobart.
With Marconi hunting down first, they will be eager to conclude the group stage on a win against a Wollongong side also seeking a strong finish to their tournament.
Broadmeadow Magic v Sydney Olympic
Date: Sunday 16 November
Kick-off: 1:00 pm (AEDT)
Venue: Magic Park
Broadmeadow host Sydney Olympic on Sunday with a small opportunity for the visitors to sneak into the final eight.
Magic’s chances for knockout football slipped away with a third defeat in a row, losing to South Melbourne in the last round.
Goals either side of half-time condemned the team to a 2-0 loss, which left them at the foot of Group A and unable to qualify for the Quarter-Finals heading into the final round.
Magic could still finish ahead of their opponents if they manage to win this weekend and earn their second set of three points of the tournament.
Olympic suffered a momentum-sapping score draw with Moreton City Excelsior in Round 5, leading by two goals on two occasions during the match.
Gloire Amanda and Ali Auglah had Labinot Haliti’s team 2-0 up by the 36th minute, but a goal right before the break pegged them back.
In the second half, Adam Parkhouse re-extended their lead, but two goals late on, including one in stoppage time, saw the points shared.
Two extra points would have pushed Olympic level on points with Moreton City in second, but they now sit three behind heading into the final round.
For Olympic to make the last eight, they need to win against Magic, and Moreton City need to lose by a sufficient margin to group-toppers South Melbourne.
Olympic need the points to give themselves a chance at progressing in the tournament, while Magic will want to finish on a high note.
South Hobart v Heidelberg United
Date: Sunday 16 November
Kick-off: 1:00 pm (AEDT)
Venue: South Hobart Oval
Heidelberg United take on South Hobart with aspirations of an unbeaten group stage run in the Championship.
South Hobart continued their losing streak in the competition as they fell to Marconi in Round 5.
The Marconi defeat is the fewest goals the team have conceded in a single match in the tournament, but it is the second time they have failed to score.
The side have now lost all five of their matches in the Championship and will finish at the bottom of Group B regardless of the result on Saturday.
United battled from behind to draw for the second week in a row, as they shared the points 2-2 with Wollongong in Round 5.
The side fell behind twice, but equalisers from Marcus Humbert and Jay McGowan pulled them back into the game each time.
Heidelberg currently sit at the top of the group, and have already qualified, but will need a win to ensure they remain in first after this weekend.
Last time around, United pulled off a blistering first-half performance against South Hobart, as they headed into the sheds 6-0 up.
South Hobart’s late consolation in that Round 3 match-up was the first time the Hahn Australia Cup Finalists had conceded in the Championship.
The hosts have kept things competitive in their home ties so far, losing by only two-goal margins to travelling Wollongong and Marconi outfits.
United will want to keep their unbeaten streak going in the Championship on Saturday, while a South Hobart victory would represent a significant improvement on their tournament record.
MetroStars v Sydney United 58
Date: Sunday 16 November
Kick-off: 1:00 pm (AEDT)
Venue: T.K. Shutter Reserve
MetroStars welcome Sydney United 58 on Sunday with a Quarter-Finals spot a firm possibility.
MetroStars picked up a vital three points last weekend, which lifted them back into the race for a Quarter-Finals spot in Group D.
The side handed Bayswater City their first defeat of the tournament, winning 2-0, courtesy of second-half goals from Jackson Walls and Christian Sotira.
MetroStars are now only three points away from the top two teams in the group and face the bottom side, United 58, this weekend.
They need either Bayswater or APIA to drop points in the other Group D clash, and to finish with a superior goal difference.
MetroStars have the same goal difference as City, while APIA’s record would be a taller mountain to climb.
United 58 showed an improved display against APIA but again failed to win, going down 2-1 in the Round 5 match.
Michael Krslovic scored his second goal of the tournament in the loss, which confirmed they will finish bottom of the group.
In their Round 3 clash, the NPL SA Premiers came from a goal down to beat United 58 with a 2-1 score line, which kick-started the hosts’ resurgent run in the competition.
MetroStars’ late run in the Championship has given them a shot at knockout football, so a win is a must for the team this weekend in front of their home crowd.
Canberra Croatia v NWS Spirit
Date: Sunday 16 November
Kick-off: 4:30 pm (AEDT)
Venue: Deakin Stadium
Two teams who need to win if they want to play knockout football go head-to-head in one of two late kick-offs on Sunday.
Canberra fought to a 0-0 draw with Preston Lions in Round 5, which drew them a point closer to NWS Spirit and kept them just two away from second position.
Currently at the foot of the table, the NPL ACT Premiers need to win and Preston to lose to Avondale in Round 6 to secure a place in the Quarter-Finals.
The side’s last win came back in Round 2, where they stunned Lions 3-2, courtesy of a come-from-behind victory.
Spirit suffered their second defeat of the tournament last weekend, losing 1-0 to Avondale - the first time they have failed to score in a Championship game.
The result means the NPL NSW Premiers have won just once across the campaign, but three points on Sunday would send them into the last eight if Preston lose.
The last time these teams met, Spirit got up 2-1, coming from a goal down as Michael Konestabo and Aedon Kyra got on the scoresheet.
The equation is simple for these teams to qualify: secure victory and watch for an Avondale win in the other match, setting up an exciting clash.
Wests APIA v Bayswater City
Date: Sunday 16 November
Kick-off: 4:30 pm (AEDT)
Venue: Leichhardt Oval
Group D’s top two teams are in action in the other late kick-off, with the pair level on points, meaning top spot is up for grabs.
APIA returned to winning ways in Round 5, edging past Sydney United 58 2-1 on Friday night.
Seiya Kambayashi opened his Australian Championship account midway through the first half, but United 58 swiftly responded.
Goal-getting defender Dredon Kelly put APIA back into the lead ahead of half-time with his third goal of the campaign.
APIA’s third win in the Championship sent them to the top of the group, following Bayswater’s loss to MetroStars.
City lost 2-0 to MetroStars in Round 6, marking their first defeat of the season after three consecutive victories beforehand.
After conceding only once in their first three matches, the side have conceded four in their past two.
A point will be enough to see the NPL WA Premiers through to the final eight, but a win would guarantee them top spot.
In Round 3, Bayswater narrowly beat APIA, which was Franco Parisi’s team’s only loss of the competition so far and the only time they’ve failed to score.
While a draw would see both teams through to the Quarter-Finals, the prospect of a first-place finish will add additional incentive to win on Sunday.