Mariners relish control over ALM Premiers' Plate race

Central Coast need just one more point to be crowned Premiers’ Plate winners under Mark Jackson.

Just one point separates Central Coast and their first A-League Men Premiers’ Plate in over a decade.

The dynasty-chasing Mariners have their destiny in their own hands when they take on Adelaide United at Industree Group Stadium on Wednesday night.

One point adrift of league-leaders Wellington, the math is simple.

Get a point or more against Adelaide and the reigning champions will win their third plate – their first since the 2011/12 season – as they enjoy a superior goal difference than the New Zealanders.

Lose and the Phoenix will snatch a maiden title.

Central Coast were due to take on Adelaide in the penultimate round of the regular season but Mark Jackson’s side was stranded in Kyrgystan after the first leg of their AFC Cup inter-zonal final against Abdysh-Ata Kant.

Wild weather in the Middle East brought flash flooding at the airports and altered their travel plans.

Though the delay initially appeared as a curveball, striker Ryan Edmondson admits the reschedule fixture – the last game of the home-and-away season – has instead been a surprising gift.

“Are we thankful for it? Maybe a little bit. It’s played into our hands,” the Englishman said on Tuesday.

The Mariners could have taken out the title last round after beating Newcastle 3-1, but the Phoenix convincingly beat Macarthur FC 3-0 to prolong the race.

But while all Wellington can do is sit and wait for a slip-up, the NSW team is in the driving seat.

“It’s how we hoped it might end, where we could control our own destiny in front of our supporters,” Jackson said.

“We know it’s a big game but I said to the players the other day, they had some big games of late and they’ve dealt with the pressure well.

“They’ve been there and done that before.”

Adelaide’s season, meanwhile, will end at the final whistle of Wednesday’s match with their finals hopes over.

But the eight-placed side still have something to play for as they farewell teenage sensation Nestory Irankunda, who flies off to join European giants Bayern Munich.

Paired with star striker Hiroshi Ibusuki (15 goals), Irankunda could cause the Mariners trouble.

“They’ve got some really dangerous players. They’ll be coming here wanting to disrupt what we want to achieve and that’s normal,” Jackson said.

“That’s how I would expect them to be as well. We have to be on our toes for what they’re going to bring but we have to go out there and play with a calmness and play our game like we’ve done all season.”