Should Wellington Phoenix fail to take all three points against Melbourne Victory on Friday night then the Mariners will be guaranteed a finals spot.

However, a Phoenix win and Central Coast would be left needing at least a point against Adelaide United on Sunday.

McKinna admits seeing Phoenix play first is a big help. He said: "It’s a huge game, but I think that we’re very fortunate that Melbourne play Wellington on Friday night and we’ll know exactly what we have to do.

"Melbourne are pushing for the Premiership, so hopefully for us, Melbourne get a result, either a draw or a win and we can look to rest a few boys who are on yellow card problems and bring in a few young ones for the game as well.

"But, if Wellington get a result it’s a huge game for us and we’ll have to stand up."

McKinna knows visitors Adelaide will arrive just as hungry for the three points as they look to finish top of the pile. The Mariners boss has nothing but asmiration for what Aurelio Vidmar's men have achieved this season - both at home and abroad.

He said: "I think Adelaide have set the benchmark, they along with Melbourne were in the AFC Champions League last season and they’ve had a great Hyundai A-League season, people who say we’re playing enough games as it is, that theory goes right out the window.

"These guys have played a lot of games, especially Adelaide, and they’ve set the standards on what we have to do in Asia next year, if we can get close to what they’ve done it will be a huge achievement.

"Hopefully we can get a result, it doesn’t matter if we need it or if we don’t need it, it’s good to go into your last game and get a result, get a bit of confidence back, have a weeks rest and get into it for the first Finals Series game."

Two of the Mariners’ National Youth League (NYL) prospects drafted into an extended 17-man squad for the Adelaide clash.

Brady Smith, 19, and Matthew Lewis, 18, have each impressed in Mariners colours throughout the NYL season to date, with Smith leading the frontline with three goals from 13 starts, while midfielder Lewis netted his maiden strike against the Melbourne Victory last Saturday in his 13th NYL appearance.

Should Lewis take to the field against the Reds, he will become the youngest Mariners player ever to make his Hyundai A-League debut – a record that is currently held by former midfielder Ian McAndrew, who made a cameo appearance at Wellington’s Westpac Stadium in October 2007 aged 18 years, 7 months and 28 days.