The major obstruction to Phoenix's playoff aspirations has completely changed.

It's no longer Heart or Newcastle.

Almost unbelievably given the events of the past six months, it's now Sydney FC.

Sydney.  Appalling for three-quarters of the season.  Pointless and goalless in the last five games of 2010.  Candidates for the worst ever defence of an A-League crown.

But as they propped up the table over New Year, the players obviously resolved to do something about it, and here they now are; the most unlikely of potential playoff participants.

By a fortunate quirk of the draw, Sydney face the three teams immediately above them in their last three matches.

If they can beat Jets, Phoenix and Heart, they'll get to 38 points, the same tally Phoenix will reach if they beat the woeful Fury on the last day of the regular season. 

If the two clubs finish tied on 38 points, it's likely Sydney's goal difference will be superior, given they'd have won their last three games and Phoenix will have lost two of theirs.

Let's face it - Sydney should beat Newcastle on Saturday night.  In fact, anyone would beat Newcastle at the moment as they stagger from one crisis to the next. If things weren't bad enough for Branko Culina, the red card Marcello Fiorentini was shown against Victory robbed him of yet another front line player. He must wonder what he's done to be dealt such atrocious cards by football's Gods.

If/when Sydney do manage to gain maximum points against Newcastle and then beat Phoenix next Wednesday, they'll enter their last match against Heart with all to play for.  Conversely, Heart's season could effectively be over this weekend if they can' beat the Mariners, giving them little to play for when they face Sydney in their last game.

One of two things needs to happen.  Either Sydney must be stopped from getting three wins or Phoenix must pick up at least a point in their next two games.

Of course, both of these things can be achieved simultaneously when the two meet in Sydney in what shapes as a colossally important match for both sides.

A draw that night would give Phoenix one foot in the playoffs.  Given their terrible away form this season, it'd be an absolutely sensational result.  However, for 83 minutes against Brisbane, Phoenix showed enough to suggest they can stave off repeated attacks for large periods. 

That would be enough against Sydney. If it was achieved, it'd be the most important clean sheet of the season.