“The FFA Cup is a big driver for us,” he said. “You can’t underestimate the importance. You can’t underestimate its value, you can’t underestimate how the football public has embraced it.

“It reveals that the depth of football goes well beyond the A-League and that there is real passion.

“In previous years we haven’t achieved our best there is no doubt about that. This year we would like to correct that. We have a fabulous opportunity playing a home game against a very worthy opponent.

“It’s an opportunity to try and match the high achievements of the other NPL clubs in Victoria who have toppled a few A-league clubs and we’d love to be one of those clubs.

“It augers well for us if we can get through this next round.”

While having a successful cup run will provide a national spotlight, Papastergiadis said the story behind South Melbourne’s A-League bid has more than one chapter.  

“The FFA Cup is important but we need to put it into perspective,” he said. “It’s only one piece in the jigsaw. At the end of the day a club’s capacity and entitlement to enter the A-League will depend on numerous factors.

“The stadium deal, the support base if it has any, a social club and a football development program for men and women. As well it’s on field success over a long period of time which we have demonstrated for the last three years and now being on top of the league again this year.

“They are the important requirements at the end of the day for an A-League bid, the FFA Cup from our perspective is the icing on the cake. It’s the cherry on top.”