KEY POINTS:
There will be plenty of coaches, players and team owners looking over their shoulders during what shapes as an absorbing final round of the regular A-League season this week.
The top four is done and dusted but, in an amazing coincidence, the top four teams who will contest the play-offs are locked on 31 (of a possible 60) points.
Queensland Roar head into the 21st round as leaders on goal difference over late-charging Sydney FC with Central Coast Mariners and Newcastle Jets just one goal (at plus three) further back.
Ironically, the top four teams have avoided each other, meaning goal difference will almost certainly play a part particularly if all four win. Of the contenders for the Hyundai A-League minor premiership, only Queensland - away to Adelaide in the last game of the regular season on Sunday - do not have home advantage. Interestingly, last season's grand finalists and subsequently Australia's representatives in the Asian Cup, Melbourne Victory and Adelaide United, have failed to back up and have no chance of winning through to Asia this time.
The chance of a second life in the play-offs for the top two teams in the minor premiership looms large.
Central Coast, three behind Queensland on the goal count, have the chance to storm home as they play the Wellington Phoenix who have dropped to the bottom of the table following their 3-0 loss and have now conceded 35 goals.
In the play-offs, the top two teams play home and away with the winner progressing straight to the February 24 final. The loser of that series plays the winner of the third versus fourth play-offs in a one-off preliminary final to find the other grand finalist.
Interest in the league continues to grow.
Last weekend's round attracted a total of 84,685 - more than 4000 up on the previous best (in the 16th round of the 2006-07 season).
In checking 19,238 spectators into Bluetongue Stadium in Gosford for Saturday's clash with neighbours Newcastle, the Central Coast club posted a club record - for the second time this season. In scoring his team's match-winning second goal, Joel Griffiths took his season tally to 11 - two ahead of Wellington's Shane Smeltz in the golden boot race.
There was also an amazing turnout at Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium with 31,933 - the highest of the season - watching the Roar play out a scoreless draw with Sydney FC. In front of the smallest crowd of the round, 8025, Perth came from behind to beat Adelaide United 3-2 and record their fourth win of the season.
In remaining 21st round matches, Perth are in Newcastle on Friday night and, in what should have been the game of the round, Sydney are at home to Melbourne on Sunday.
