The Mariners sit four points outside the top six with six games to go, ahead of Saturday’s match at home against Melbourne City.

Okon acknowledged their situation was challenging but wanted his players to treat each remaining game like a final.

“It’s a bit of a cliché but we do (treat each game like a final),” Okon said.

“Once you get to this part of the season, it virtually becomes like that. I actually enjoy it.

“It means there’s a little bit more pressure, but we want our players to deal with that.

“We feel in these situations, if we can respond in that way, it helps our younger players to grow.”

Despite that, Okon insisted his side wasn’t talking about ladder placings or making the finals.

“We don’t focus on it too much or talk too much about it,” he said.

“We’re not fools, we know if we can string together a series of wins, which we did in February, it brings you closer to that bunch of teams vying for the top six.

“Sunday is not about cementing a spot in the six. It’s about performing against one of the best teams in the country.

“We know if we win, we move up the table.”