The Central Coast Mariners have invited Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Football Federation Australia's two most powerful men to Canberra for what looms as another A-League test in the capital.
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But former A-League4Canberra bid leader Ivan Slavich has called on the soccer community to bury any lingering anger at the game's governing body after a failed $5 million bid to join the league four years ago.
Slavich has been appointed the Mariners' Canberra business development ambassador for the club's deal to play two A-League games at Canberra Stadium.
It comes after more than 5,500 fans watched Canberra Olympic battle Sydney FC in an FFA Cup semi-final at Viking Park on Wednesday night and with the FFA considering A-League expansion.
But Slavich says the capital must be realistic about its chances of securing a stand-alone licence, urging fans to adopt the "Capital Coast" Mariners like Canberra AFL fans have taken to the GWS Giants.
Turnbull, FFA chairman Frank Lowy and FFA chief executive David Gallop are on an extensive VIP list for the Mariners' clash against the Wellington Phoenix with Slavich trying to rally support.
He has helped create a "Capital Coast Club" to generate corporate support, which includes a ticketing package for companies.
Slavich says he holds no ill feeling towards the FFA despite his four-year bid for a Canberra team being kiboshed in 2012 because of the capital's population size.
The FFA has repeatedly said it was unlikely to expand to cities with a population of one million.
Slavich has set an ambitious target of getting more than 15,000 to the Mariners-Phoenix clash to give the FFA a reminder that there is an appetite for top-level soccer.
"This is the pathway for us. I would love more than anyone to have our own team in the A-League," Slavich said.
"But it's not going to happen overnight. We've tried that and we know that this is the way to go, to align with the Central Coast.
"It's two games in Canberra now but if it's well supported there could be more. I think this is our stepping stone.
"Let's make the 'Capital Coast' Mariners our GWS Giants for football. We can't wait 30 years until there's one million people in Canberra."
The Giants have a 10-year agreement with the ACT government, while the Mariners are testing the waters to see if they can come to a long-term arrangement.
The Mariners have also formed a pathway for Canberra juniors, inviting talented players to train with the club as they look to capitalise on the 18,000 registered soccer players in the capital.
Soccer's participation base makes it the most popular organised sport in Canberra.
Slavich wants to transfer that into bums on seats and wants all A-League fans, not just Mariners supporters, to get behind the plan.
It is hoped a soccer double-header with the Mariners-Phoenix match teaming up with Canberra United's W-League season-opener will boost support.
"The Central Coast really need us as much as we need them and combining the populations, there's close to one million people," Slavich said.
"This is critical for Canberra and I know the community has heard it all before about being a test [by FFA officials].
"But I can categorically tell you, this is a test. If we get less than 10,000 people here [for the Mariners and Phoenix] it will tell them there's no appetite for a team.
"It's time to move on from the past. Dwelling on it won't help anyone. This is our team – the Western Sydney Wanderers won't play here and no one else will.
"It might not be A-League4Canberra, but it's A-League in Canberra."
