But if there's one thing finals football has taught us, it's that white line fever can create the most exciting match ups from seemingly the dreariest encounters. 

Perth and Wellington have faced massive challenges in the Hub and it's no surprise that they've been the worst affected on the park. But that makes it kind of perfect that these two teams drew each other.

"Now is the exciting part," Tony Popovic told the club's website.

"It's a real focus on a Semi-Final, it's an elimination game and this is what players play for; to be in this position, to have a chance by being here, of progressing and winning the title.

"We're not thinking that it's almost over, we're thinking about tomorrow's game and the chance we have.

Perth will be without their star young attacker Nick D'Agostino while Wellington will miss English import Gary Hooper, but with the likes of Ulises Davila and Bruno Fornaroli still on the pitch, these two sides still boast some of the most pedigreed international strikepower in the entire league.

"We've trained well and you can sense that it's a Finals game. We still have a few niggles and I suppose every club would have in a similar situation," Popovic continued.

"Nick D'Agostino won't be available - he got injured unfortunately in the Melbourne Victory game when he came on.

"A few others we've had to assess and manage through this period, but we're hopeful that they will come through today's training.

"Today will be our last hit-out and the last chance for players to show that they're ready."

Popovic praised Wellington, while admitting the two clubs find themselves in similar situations.

"Wellington have had a very good season," he said.

"They've been similar to us post-COVID in terms of their results or points return, but they've had a very good year, as we have.

"They deserve to be where they are and in the front third, they are a very dangerous outfit.

"We're aware of that and have prepared well for it, but we want to encourage our players to play with belief and courage with the ball, which we've done very well.

"Now we want to convert that good possession that we've had into better opportunities in the front third.

"That's what we've been working on and we look forward to putting that into place tomorrow.

"We haven't concerned ourselves too much about particular individuals, it's been more about them as a team and as a unit and how well they attack.

"They won't have a proven goalscorer and we also won't have players in the front third, like Nick D'Agostino and that's something we'll have to deal with.

"Our approach will be the same in terms of respecting their players in the front third who are very dangerous, so nothing will change on that front and we're ready for whoever may play in his [Hooper's] place."