Melbourne Victory have rediscovered their mojo with a 2-1 win over Brisbane Roar that vindicated coach Kevin Muscat's reluctance to make wholesale changes to his team or tactics.
It couldn't have come at a better time, either, with their next clash Saturday's derby against a wounded Melbourne City.
But Muscat admitted replicating that sizzling first-half display at Suncorp Stadium on a consistent basis was the next task on the A-League side's to-do list.
Tipped to give the title a shake this season, Victory had won just two matches prior to Sunday but jolted back to form through goals from Rhys Williams and Kosta Barbarouses to move into fifth spot on the ladder.
It looked like the Victory of old, proving why Muscat chose to ignore external calls for reinvention on the pitch.
"That first half was very, very good. We could have come in one or two more goals in front," Muscat said.
"One thing that tonight showed me (is that) we're a good football team.
"Now, how long can we maintain that for? It's another challenge laid down to the group.
"It worked well tonight and the responsibility is all of ours to make sure we just concentrate on another performance. It happens to be a derby next week."
It shapes as a true six-pointer, with City only three wins ahead of Victory in third place.
City are set to head into the clash without a recognised striker following Ross McCormack's injury in their 3-1 defeat to runaway ladder leaders Sydney FC on Friday night.
The full extent of McCormack's knee problem isn't yet known but scans on Sunday did clear him of a ruptured ACL.
Sydney, City and second-placed Newcastle have formed a mini-breakaway on top of the table after the Jets consolidated their position with a late 2-1 triumph at home against Adelaide United.
Dimitri Petratos sealed it for the Jets with a controversial 89th-minute penalty after Ryan Strain was pinged for handball.
Replays were inconclusive and seemed to suggest the ball hit Strain's chest but the video assistant referee upheld the ruling.
It was the start of a big night for the VAR - later on Saturday in Gosford, two yellow cards were upgraded to reds, reducing the Central Coast Mariners to nine men as they lost 2-0 to Western Sydney.
Both were questionable decisions, but the Wanderers were already two goals to the good when they happened and will gladly take their first win under Josep Gombau following last weekend's embarrassment against Sydney FC.
Meanwhile, Wellington are four points adrift at the bottom of the ladder after a 1-0 defeat to Perth Glory, who jumped into the top six courtesy of Diego Castro's first goal of the season.
