After today’s training, the press went searching for a headline to pump up the rivalry, but Stefanutto said Central Coast deserved the utmost respect.

He said the table doesn’t lie and congratulated Central Coast on the Premiers Plate, shrugging off comparisons between the two teams.

“You asked the question and it’s a tough question,” he said with a laugh. “I guess the best side will be determined on who wins that grand final.

“A trophy is up for grabs, we let the first one slip, so we want the next one.”

While agreeing Roar had the wood on the Mariners over the last two years, he said both sides had taken their rivalry to a new level.

“They’ve talked about scars about the grand final so I guess they’re in the back of their mind but they’re in the back of ours, of course," he said.

But the one-time Socceroo defender did say that livewire Central Coast striker Bernie Ibini shouldn’t be the focus for Roar’s defensive structure.

“He’s quick, but I don’t think he’s the quickest player in the league," he said. "But you can’t concentrate on one player otherwise someone else will hit you.

“We will concentrate on our game, as you’ve seen today."

Stefanutto said the busy week ahead – a midweek trip to Korea for an ACL clash followed by an away second leg of the major semin final – wasn’t something the players were too concerned about.

He added: “It’s an exciting week, a big week and we’ve said all year, as footballers we want to play in the biggest and best games… Our focus is on Saturday night but I guess results will show.

"With what’s happened with Gold Coast United in the A-League, we just want to put a smile on a few Queenslanders’ faces.”