Lawrence Thomas in action in the semi-final between Melbourne Victory and Melbourne City at Etihad last week. In the past three weeks Thomas has twice achieved a new career highlight: initially when Victory sealed the Premiers Plate, and then by beating Melbourne City in a derby semi-final in front of a crowd of 50,873. The 23-year-old has the opportunity to trump that feat for a third time on Sunday, when he starts in goal for "by far the biggest game" of his career, for Victory in the grand final against Sydney FC. That Thomas last week lined up against City, rather than for them, was down to a minor tug of war between the teams in 2011, when he returned from England looking for a new home. The Sydneysider was just 16 when, in 2008, he was offered a three-year deal by Portsmouth after a successful trial. He declined the offer because it was in the aftermath of the death of his father, Andrew.

"I was homesick after two weeks so I couldn't do it," he recalled. After an Australian Institute of Sport stint Thomas decided to try again in England. He was poised to join Coventry, but wrangling over compensation to his former clubs thwarted the deal. He instead joined Sheffield United in England's second tier, but left because he was stuck in the reserves and had only once sat on the bench for the senior team. At the end of that season, in mid-2011, the goalkeeper was injured at a Young Socceroos training camp. His exit was cushioned by an approach from assistant coach Ante Milicic for him to trial at Melbourne City (then Heart), where he was also on the coaching panel. Thomas was told to stay at home in Sydney until he returned to full fitness. Just before that happened he got an approach from Victory goalkeeping coach Steve Mautone, who was unfussed he was not quite fully recovered. When he gave City a courtesy call informing them of his plans to accept Mautone's offer to tour Victory's facilities – "The last thing I wanted to do was play anyone around" – he was informed doing so would close the door on him joining them. Even though Thomas was only 20 when he joined Victory, he only did so because he was assured his age would not hinder his ambition to be No.1 goalkeeper.

His stints between the sticks had been rare, until Coe succumbed to a season-ending back injury last month. In the five matches since, and the second half of the game he replaced his fellow goalkeeper in, he has conceded only three goals. Thomas praised the influence of his teammates for that, for restricting opponents' shots on goals, but said he was also proud of his performances, which included key saves from David Williams and Harry Novillo in his clean sheet last weekend. "I think I've shown in up in Brisbane, [saving] the double header, and then the pressure game last weekend, it doesn't faze me at all. I'm looking forward to it," he said. Having had a taste of being the No.1 over the past six weeks he is eager to keep it that way, and not go back to being an understudy. The match marks the end of his contract with Victory. "The main thing for me is I need to be playing," he said. "I think I've proven now, especially in big-pressure games, that I'm reliable in the No.1 spot."