Canberra United remains firmly in the mix for their first silverware in nine seasons as they head west for Saturday’s meeting with Perth Glory.

Two points off leaders Melbourne City, they’ve shown consistent ability to not just match, but better the notional strongest clubs in the league, beating Sydney FC and Melbourne Victory twice each this season. In losing just twice since November they’ve been – along with Wellington – the league’s success story so far.

It could all have been so different for a club that continues to operate in spite of its own instability; real danger they may not field a side this season only ended in July as the ACT Government committed funding through 2026/27. It meant assembling a squad on standby for manager Antoni Jagarinec, a feat he pulled off with aplomb.

‘It wasn’t easy, and not knowing was probably the hardest thing. I had a lot of conversations with players that were there last season and kept in constant conversation – but without being able to offer them a contract or way forward’, Jagarinec told Box2Box.

‘It was pretty open and honest dialogue with all of them: make sure you keep options open and have conversations with everyone you need to, but make sure you keep me in the loop. I’m not going to lie, that was pretty tough.

‘When we got the go-ahead and I got the call I was going to retain my job, which was great, I immediately called those eight or nine players I wanted to retain straight away. We missed some quality internationals because of timing, no-one’s fault, but we had to go digging again and it took a long time to find the right people.’

The Perth trip will be followed by a meeting with Western Sydney Wanderers, before the league heads into recess for the Asian Cup. Win their next two and they set themselves up for a big final month, in which they meet City – although not the Phoenix, who are level on points but have a game in hand.

Canberra were hugely successful through the opening decade of the W-League, winning three Premierships and two Championships. The league has moved forward as they’ve endured their drought: more teams competing, longer seasons, growth of rival clubs. Success in what is now a very environment would be momentous.

‘We have a fantastic squad and a real winning mentality and purpose behind what we’re doing. We had early conversations and the PowerPoint slide set up early on in pre-season said, ‘why not us? Why not Canberra United?’

‘It’s my second year as head coach, I learned a lot last year about not just our team, but about the league and other coaches and teams as well – you see things from different perspectives when you have the top job.

‘So it’s always been there, but it’s been about looking after ourselves, making sure the processes behind the promises has been important. Making sure we do the right things and take three points every week because six points can give you the premiership, but if you drop six points, you’re well outside the six.

‘It’s game by game, week by week, like that old chestnut goes. But Perth this weekend is a massive trip, followed up by Western Sydney, a really good side that’s in form at the moment as well. So two very hard trips before we have the Asian Cup break into City. It’s a long way before we play City, let’s just say that.’