Whether South Melbourne win the Australia Cup final or fall short, the historic powerhouse believes it has already proved it deserves a long-craved A-League licence.
The NSL giants will face modern powerhouse Melbourne Victory in Saturday night's sold-out blockbuster at AAMI Park.
It comes fresh off South launching their latest bid to join the A-Leagues after previously being overlooked for Melbourne Heart, then Western United.
"We want to be in the A-League yesterday," co-president Bill Papastergiadis told AAP.
"And are we ready? We were ready six years ago when we made our bid for 2018 when we had the best boutique stadium in the country, the supporter base that we've now seen in numbers coming to these big line matches.
"The sponsorship, the playing budget, has been doubled in the last year as has administrative overheads."
Papastergiadis noted in joining the OFC Pro League, South were up to scratch from a licensing perspective and they would be ready to enter the A-Leagues next season if permitted.
"So, we're a professional football club with a professional licence ready to participate in the A-League," he said.
"We're the 13th professional club in this country.
"This is a club that's ready-made for the A-League. It's got the package."
Papastergiadis felt South had shown they wouldn't "cannibalise" Victory and Melbourne City's supporter bases.
"What we've seen in this match and in the Australian Championship matches is that we're bringing a new wave of supporters back. We're reconnecting foundation football with the A-League," he said.
Becoming the first non-A-League club to lift the Australia Cup certainly wouldn't hurt South's chances.
"I think the story about South has already been written well prior to the ball being kicked on Saturday," Papastergiadis said.
"And in regards to supporter engagement, social media interest, media frenzy, and in particular, the sellout of a stadium - which has never happened in a Australia Cup match - within practically a day and a half.
"The previous record was 18,000. We hit 30,000 in a matter of a few days.
"So I think South's credentials and South's position in the football hierarchy has now been appropriately recognised and evident for everyone to see well before we kick that ball.
"Now, what happens on the day is simply the cherry on top."
Papastergiadis believes Greek-Australian powerhouse South can help bridge the "schism" between NSL fans and clubs who felt hurt and abandoned when that league folded, and the modern day A-League.
"This is not really a story about South Melbourne. It's a story about all of the foundation clubs," he said.
"Because we're like the Trojan horse for all of the other clubs. And we want to be that Trojan horse because we want to create the opportunity for everyone to aspire.
"There is absolutely nothing any of us should be embarrassed about in regards to our heritage.
"The people that set up these clubs like South almost 70 years ago did it on the back of empty suitcases, coming off a boat from Greece.
"Those people gave it all for football in this country. They need to be recognised. They need to be rewarded. They need to be respected."
Ange Postecoglou, Kevin Muscat and Paul Trimboli are among many with connections to both clubs in the hotly-anticipated clash.
There has arguably never been an Australian domestic game with more hype.
"It's the biggest day for the club in 22 years. It's the pinnacle for the club in its football endeavours for the last two decades," Papastergiadis said.
To top things off, in a moment in which the A-League is struggling and battling for relevance, it's a much-needed, fortuitous shot in the arm.
"It's what Australian football needs domestically," Victory captain Jason Davidson said.
"It's going to be a huge game, an amazing night."
