Adelaide United will look to prove their final credentials when they host Melbourne City at the Hindmarsh Stadium on Saturday.
While United sits in the A-League Women's Top Four, they have defeated only the bottom teams and failed in their first two battles with final-bound sides, including the Nationals on 18 December.
City won 3–1 that day, with in-form Marshall Women's Hannah Wilkinson scoring twice.
But goalkeeper Melissa Barberi said it would be foolish to underestimate the improvement in her team, the Reds.
"Every team is getting better every week... they're coming up with new strategies, the coaches are working hard behind the scenes, we understand that just because we've played a team before doesn't mean that We'll get the same thing," she said.
"We will focus on our set up, playing our game ... Adelaide were a formidable opponent when we came up against them last time, so we know they are going to be extra tough on home soil."
Barbieri, who is a week away from her 42nd birthday, has started every game this season in the absence of Young Matilda's keeper Sally James.
With James now recovering from a broken thumb, the city legend was keen to push the club back to first place.
"I do my part when I'm asked and it's all about having a clean sheet, and I don't care who does it as long as we do it," she said.
Adelaide, meanwhile, enters the game riding back-to-back victories, most recently an impressive 3-1 win against Canberra United where counter-attacking talent proved the difference.
Fiona Worts was in excellent touch with one goal and one assist, while top scorer Chelsea Dauber scored four goals in as many starts.
United's women never played a final, with assistant coach Joe Mullen, who will coach in Adrian Stanta's absence on Saturday, saying the group had matured to the point they were ready to fire.
"They've played together for a lot of years now, starting out as young players ... they've grown as a group," he said.
"They have taken responsibility and accountability, especially the leadership group and once they do it spreads to the entire team."