Seemingly, the focus at Sydney FC right now is on the life-and-death struggle to make the finals – a cause only partly helped by Saturday night’s draw against Melbourne Victory.

Truth is, there is a much bigger prize preoccupying the front office at Moore Park. Building a centre of excellence remains the holy grail for chairman Scott Barlow, who is acutely aware that after a decade of existence the club desperately needs to prove it has some sense of direction.

At last, the CoE is more than a dream. Soon it could become a reality. But for that to be achieved, the richest club in the A-League needs to win a battle for hearts and minds with a club many associate with a bygone era, Sydney Olympic.

Tempe Reserve, so close to the northern end of the runway at Sydney Airport that you can imagine a punt kick from Vedran Janjetovic or Paul Henderson hitting the bottom of a plane, is the battleground between two clubs who live in different circumstances but share a common goal. Marrickville Council will have to decide, but don’t assume might is always right. Sydney Olympic, who have close cultural ties to the district, have produced a tender based on community involvement which may yet usurp the claims of a club which, after all, is owned by a foreign billionaire. It’s a hard one to call.