Now that round 26 has come to an end, we can finally analyse just how the last week of the 2013/14 A-League is going to pan out. Thankfully, with draws aplenty this past weekend, the only place in the finals that is ‘locked in’ is Brisbane’s position at the top of the table.

The current situation heading into the final week of the regular season can be seen in the image on the right. Heart, Wellington and Perth Glory are now all out of the running for finals football.

What makes this even more interesting, though, is the fact that the four of the five teams battling it out for 2nd place are playing away in week 27 – allowing a few rivals and lower ranked teams to play ‘party poopers’ next weekend.

So, let us break down the ways in which the various teams can either claim 2nd spot on the ladder (in the case of Western Sydney, Central Coast, Victory, Adelaide and Sydney FC), can claim the final assured place in the top 6 (in the case of Sydney and Newcastle Jets), or avoid the wooden spoon (in the case of Perth, Wellington and the Heart).

In the battle for 2nd place…

Western Sydney Wanderers (WSW)

Final fixture: Away vs Melbourne Heart (10th)

A win

A draw, plus a CCM draw/loss, an ADL draw/loss, and an MVC draw/loss

Central Coast Mariners (CCM)

Final fixture: Away vs Brisbane Roar (1st)

A win, plus a WSW draw/loss

A draw, plus a WSW loss, an ADL draw/loss, and an MVC draw/loss

Adelaide United (ADL)

Final fixture: Away vs Newcastle Jets (7th)

A win, plus a WSW draw/loss, and a CCM draw/loss

A draw, plus a WSW loss, a CCM loss, and an MVC draw/loss

Melbourne Victory (MVC)

Final fixture: Away vs Wellington Phoenix (9th)

A win, plus a WSW draw/loss, a CCM draw/loss, and an ADL draw/loss

Sydney FC (SYD)

Final fixture: Home vs Perth Glory (8th)

A win, plus a WSW loss (with a combined win/loss margin of 3 goals), a CCM loss, an ADL loss, and a MVC draw/loss.

In the battle for finals qualification…

Sydney FC (SYD)

Final fixture: Home vs Perth Glory (8th)

A win

A draw

A loss, plus a NEW draw/loss

A loss, plus a NEW win (with a combined win/loss margin in the two games of 3 or less goals, due to SYD’s superior ‘goals scored’)

Newcastle Jets (NEW)

Final fixture: Home vs Adelaide United (4th)

A win, plus a SYD loss (with a combined win/loss margin in the two games of 4 or more goals, due to SYD’s superior ‘goals scored’)

In the battle to avoid the Wooden Spoon…

Perth Glory (PER)

Final fixture: Away vs Sydney FC (6th)

A win

A draw, plus a WEL loss or a MHT draw/loss

a MHT draw/loss A loss, plus a WEL loss or a MHT draw/loss

a MHT draw/loss A loss, plus a WEL draw and a MHT draw/loss

Wellington Phoenix (WEL)

Final fixture: Home vs Melbourne Victory (5th)

A win

A draw, plus a MHT draw/loss

A loss, plus a MHT draw/loss

Melbourne Heart (MHT)

Final fixture: Home vs Western Sydney (2nd)

A win, plus a WEL draw/loss or a PER draw/loss

About the author Justin is a passionate football fan, and the Editor-in-chief of Ultimate A-League.

Follow @justintickner Justin is a passionate football fan, and the Editor-in-chief of Ultimate A-League.