Albury will host its first A-League match on Sunday, with searing heat set to greet Melbourne Heart and Perth Glory.
With the temperature forecast to soar to 42 degrees, the match that the council promises will be "Albury's biggest ever sporting event" could instead turn into survival of the fittest.
Glory coach Kenny Lowe teed off at organisers earlier in the week and got some support from Heart counterpart John van `t Schip.
Both said the game was unlikely to be played at high pace, with Lowe suggesting some European players used to colder climates would have to be sheltered from the weather.
"You want to play a game in good conditions, not only for the players... but also for the crowd," van `t Schip said.
"Hopefully it's not going to be that hot or we can maybe push it back, but it's not up to me.
"It's not the perfect circumstances, but we have to deal with it."
Heart will head to Albury hoping for a cool change both in the weather and their record against Perth Glory after suffering losses in both their meetings this year.
Perth are Heart's most recent conquerors, winning 3-0 just four weeks ago when Dylan Macallister's red card allowed Perth hitman Shane Smeltz to score a late brace.
That match is van `t Schip's sole reverse since returning to the Heart job last month, though he wasn't putting too much emphasis on marking the A-League's all-time goalscorer over others.
"Perth have a very good team," he said.
"If you look at their starting eleven it's a team that I think is one of the best in the A-League.
"Of course Smeltz is the goalscorer and he likes scoring against Heart ... but we have to focus on our own game."
Lowe has included new signing Rostyn Griffiths in his squad alongside heat-shy Darvydas Sernas and William Gallas, but has omitted Ryan Edwards and Adrian Zahra.
The Lavington Oval fixture - being held just north of the NSW-Victoria border - could be a cheeky way for Heart to end their long search for an interstate win despite being the home side.
Heart are on a 24-match winless run for games outside Melbourne, dating back to December 2011.
However, Heart will be without Orlando Engelaar for the Riverina trip after a harsh red card from the side's 2-1 win over Sydney FC last week.
Van `t Schip was coy on who might replace Engelaar though he did confirm unloved striker Michael Mifsud was again not part of his plans.
In the heat, the A-League is likely to give drinks breaks in the middle of each half but an FFA spokesman said the 3pm kick-off would only be delayed if the reading on the day exceeded 28C under the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature.
