Brisbane coach Garrath McPherson concedes his team must win all four remaining games to have a chance of reaching the A-League Women finals series.
Considering the Roar have only won four of their 14 games to date, that becomes more of a challenge.
Brisbane are on 17 competition points, six behind fourth-placed Melbourne Victory, so they are still relying on other results going their way.
First-up the Roar must beat second-placed Western United at Brisbane's Perry Park on Saturday, and that's no easy task.
They have received a boost with Matildas duo Katrina Gorry and Larissa Crummer back from international duty.
The pair missed the 1-all draw away to Wellington last week which was a golden opportunity squandered to narrow the gap on fourth spot against the ALW cellar dwellers.
"Two matches ago fate was in our own hands. If we'd won all our games we would have been in the finals," McPherson told AAP.
"The loss in Perth following the international break meant we were relying on other results.
"We are in a position where I think anything short of four wins is going to make it near impossible because we will be relying on teams in front of us, who are very good teams as well, losing three of the four they've got."
It has been a season of 'what-ifs' for Brisbane. They have hit the woodwork on numerous occasions and had two draws with the Phoenix, against whom most of the teams above them have picked up maximum points.
"We've had plenty of draws, too many draws to be honest," McPherson said.
"We have belief in each other and belief in our roster that we can do great things.
"Katrina Gorry and Larissa Crummer both come back in and that is massive.
"This (season) we have only lost one match at home and that was against Sydney on New Year's Eve. I think we are a good chance out at Perry Park."
