Brisbane Roar defender Shane Stefanutto insists it’s business as usual in camp this week ahead of Saturday’s top-of-the-table clash with Melbourne Victory.
They may be almost assured of the season’s first piece of silverware but Brisbane defender Shane Stefanutto has promised the Roar won’t be taking their foot off the gas before the A-League finals.
The Roar host second-placed Melbourne Victory at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday night knowing a victory will secure the Premiers’ Plate with three games to spare.
Stefanutto admits there is extra motivation to wrap up the plate in front of their home fans but insists it’s been business as usual this week ahead of the top-of-the-table clash.
“Of course it’s exciting what we can achieve this week but we really want to put on another good performance in front of our home fans,” Stefanutto said.
“For us it’s about getting (the performance) side of things right and the rest will take care of itself.
“The opportunity (for the Premiers’ Plate) is there and that is exciting but our aim is to go into the finals with a bit of momentum.
“At the start of the season you set some goals and one of those was to win (the Championship) and to get into the ACL.
“We have high expectations at this club and we’re well on our way to achieving those things.”
Stefanutto has been with the Roar since 2010 and was part of the side that won a Premiers’ Plate and two Championships in succession a couple of seasons ago.
But in a chilly warning to the rest of the competition, the former Socceroos left-back rates this Roar squad as the best of the lot.
“The new players have fitted in really well to the culture of the club. Your Liam Miller-s, Dimitri Petrato-s, Diogo Ferreira’s. They have all really helped,” Stefanutto said.
“(Coach Mike Mulvey) has come in and done well. He puts a lot of faith in the players and that really rubs off on us.
“But the big difference for me is our squad depth. Maybe in the past we’ve relied on same 11, 12 or 13 players.
“Now we have huge belief in 20 guys to do a job whenever they are called upon as we’ve seen this season.
“I’m really confident in every player and they have all contributed,” Stefanutto concluded.
