With the fast-finishing Wangaratta breathing down their neck and clashes against reigning league champion Albury United and reigning cup winner Boomers FC in the final two rounds, anything short of three points tomorrow will put Patties finals hopes in serious jeopardy.

“We’ve pretty much got to win this week or we’ll be forced to pull a rabbit out of the hat against Boomers or United,” Ritchie said.

“The way we’re going, the chances of that look very unlikely, so it’s pretty much win on Sunday or lights out for finals.

“I don’t think Wangaratta will win the rest of their games but with the draw they’ve got you would think they’ll get enough points to get past us.”

Many thought Patties were genuine top-four material after nine rounds when they sat on top of the table with six wins, two draws and a loss.

Since then, however, Alex Vaskovic’s charges have been cruelled by injuries to key youngsters Jedd Gvozdenovic and Nikola Bukvic, dogged stopper Nathan Ardern as well as the departure of two goalkeepers, Lee Pollard (returned to England) and Robert Ritchie (back surgery).

“Not much has gone right,” Ritchie said.

“We lost (top striker) Shane Anderson in the first round, we’re on to our third goalkeeper, and we’ve had a steady stream of guys in and out of the team for long periods.

“We’re almost back to full strength with Nathan Ardern (calf) the only major inclusion still to come.”

If St Pat’s does hold its spot in the eight, its skipper backed his side to cause headaches in the finals.

“We’ve just got to get there first.”