The Wellington Phoenix aren't yet guaranteed a first New Zealand A-League football playoff berth although results over the weekend have carried them to the verge.
Central Coast Mariners dropped from contention with their 3-1 loss to Perth overnight, leaving only Brisbane and North Queensland as faint chances to overhaul the sixth-placed Phoenix.
Saturday's 1-0 defeat of Adelaide, in front of a stunning crowd of nearly 20,000 in Christchurch, also keeps the Phoenix in the hunt for a top-four finish with two rounds remaining.
Victory in Sunday's game away to co-leaders Gold Coast would not only guarantee a place in the post-season but could put them in the frame for a top-four finish, which would see them play at home in the first round of the playoffs.
Gold Coast will be a tough nut to crack, however, coming off a 1-0 defeat of Melbourne on Friday which sees those teams share the competition lead.
Simply qualifying will be the Phoenix's first priority and Brisbane loom as the only realistic challengers following their 1-0 defeat of Sydney on Saturday, leaving them four points behind the Phoenix and needing to beat both Adelaide and Perth to have any hope of advancing.
Ninth-placed North Queensland still have a mathematical chance of passing the Phoenix but would need to win their three remaining matches and hope for favourable results elsewhere.
The Phoenix end their regular season campaign against the Mariners in Wellington on February 12.
