The Sky Blues – whom Hopkins believe have the best all-round squad in the competition – are fourth, just a point behind Victory.

The Victorian team then has to fly to Perth to face second-placed Glory next Friday night – a match that could determine the destination of the premiership – before returning to Canberra the following Tuesday to complete their campaign in the replay of the abandoned match.

As things stand, Victory look almost certain to make the finals, and that means they would back up again five days later in the semi-final. Where that would be will be determined by their finishing position on the ladder.

At present, Brisbane are top on 20 points from 11 games, Glory are second with 19 from 11, Victory third with 19 from nine, Sydney fourth with 18 from 10 and defending champions Melbourne City fifth with 16 from 11.

City need other results to go their way if they are to have a chance of defending their title, which doesn't look likely.

If Victory see off Sydney on Sunday in a game being played at Lakeside Stadium (the pitch at Victory's home ground in Epping for the Melbourne derby drew widespread criticism so this game has been shifted) they will definitely make the finals, which, until that is mathematically certain, is Hopkins' prime concern.

"It's a tough schedule," Hopkins said.

"If we beat Sydney on Sunday we will definitely be there as we will be three points clear of Perth so my first concern is to get enough points to get us into the finals."

The coach – who has been mentioned as a possible replacement for sacked Matildas boss Alen Stajic – is, not surprisingly, delighted with the way the season has progressed.

"I am very happy with the way things are going, both in attack and defence. Natasha Dowie is in great form, Christine Nairn and Emily Gielnek are also making huge contributions up front.

"Our ability to create with Emily, Christine, Lia [Privitelli] and Melina Ayres earlier in the season, we have shown we can open teams up and break them down.

"And as a team we work really well defensively, we have an excellent structure and that is a change to last season.

"We went forward well last year but we were quite often open to counter-attacks. This year we have been better at shutting teams down when they break against us.

"Our defenders have done really well, the combination between Laura Alleway and Sam Johnson has been tremendous ... they win everything in the air and on the ground and I think they are under rated with what they do with the ball at their feet.

"In addition our full-backs [Teigan Allen and Angela Beard] are quick and like getting forward, so we have a good mix."

The last time these two teams met was in November, and Victory took all three points in Sydney thanks to a Dowie hat-trick.

Hopkins knows his players cannot take anything for granted as the Sky Blues have discovered a consistency they lacked at the start of the campaign.

"They were a little bit inconsistent back then. They didn't have a great start to the season. They've really got their game together since then," he said.

"If you look at their squad player for player, you'd most probably say they've got the strongest squad in the league.

"But again it's a great challenge for us because our strength is our team and the way we come together as a team so we're looking forward to putting ourselves up against a very good side and it'll be a good challenge for us."