Newcastle Jets host Wellington on Saturday with both teams desperate to avoid the Liberty A-League wooden spoon.
Two points clear of the last-ranked Phoenix with two games remaining, the Jets can build a comfortable buffer with victory that would all but condemn their opponents to a second straight bottom-place finish.
They’ll also head to the No.2 Sportsground looking to send club legend Tara Andrews off on a high in her final home game for the club.
Andrews, who has scored a club-record 46 goals, will retire at the end of the campaign after eight individual seasons as the Jets’ top-scorer.
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The Phoenix, who are after consecutive wins in Australia for the first time in their short history, have had an up-and-down campaign and are looking to find the form that saw them upset Sydney FC 1-0 two games back.
Phoenix head coach Natalie Lawrence said a strong run home would have a big impact on how the side progresses next campaign.
“You end well, that’s the… lasting memory you go away with,” she said.
“We ended last season really strong and more competitive and this season we’ve been more competitive throughout.
“So if we can turn the performances into results in our last three games… get more results and keep dominating games and turn those performances into goals and points, then we can probably look back on the season fondly.”
It will be Newcastle coach Gary van Egmond’s first game in charge since being appointed the club’s permanent boss earlier this week, after previously keeping the job on an interim basis.
Van Egmond’s side has won just one of six games since taking over after Ash Wilson left the role in February.
