"This is a massive game, a brilliant game to be a part of on a Saturday night," Glory defender Scott Jamieson told The World Game.
"As players at the Glory, we feel hard done by in that we don't get much media and other attention, but this is it. I mean, this is a good one for us - we've been asking for it and we're going to get it, so it's exciting, mate, it really is.
"Hopefully, we can use this game to end our win drought and be in a great position coming out of the round. That's certainly what we're aiming to do.
"It's not a grand final or anything, but we're all very well aware it's first against second and we're getting down to the business end of the season. Victory generate a lot of media exposure, but they haven't beaten us yet this season.
"This opportunity is something our players have wanted and now we've got it and it's going to be exciting. Playing big games is what it's all about. You want to be a part of these games and prove to people that you are good enough to be where you are on the table."
Jamieson says the Perth players have made the trip across the continent for the game at AAMI Park with a real buzz about them.
"There's never been a talked-up game between Victory and Glory," he said. "Never been a match of the round or anything like that, but this weekend it's the biggest game of the round and that adds to the spice and the theatre and I'm sure it will be a massive crowd.
"Every athlete wants to play in the big spectacles and we're excited and ready for it and we've got a lot of big-name players, so I'm confident."
Glory has managed to hold on to top spot despite not having won any of its last six matches. It has drawn four and lost two, picking up just four points from a possible 18.
Jamieson says it is a bonus for Glory to have had a slump and not paid a heavy price for it, but that now is the time to break out of it.
Victory will take the competition lead if it beats Perth. The two teams would be level on points, but Victory already has a superior goal difference. Plus, Victory has a game in hand on Glory and the other current top five teams, which would make it hard to beat for the Premiers' Plate from there.
"Well, first and foremost, we're not happy we haven't won in six games, but I think realistically every team will go through a slump during the year," Jamieson said. "I guess it comes down to how long it continues and how quickly you can get over it.
"The thing to me is we haven't won in six games, but we're still top of the league, so I look at it with a glass half full kind of attitude.
"Other teams have had the opportunity to overtake us, but we're still there. Sydney FC is probably the only team that has capitalised. They've closed the gap and made it a five-team race.
"So, like I said, it comes down to how long you let the slump go on for and for us I definitely felt like there were some good signs coming through from our draw against Brisbane last weekend.
"I thought having gone one up we were going to go on with the job, but then they scored a couple of goals. The good thing was that we showed the character to come back and get a point.
"We were poor against Melbourne City in the previous round, we won't hide from that. But we got a point. Against Adelaide our first 45 minutes was poor and we were better in the second half, so I think slowly we're turning it around and getting a few results.
"But now it's about standing up to this big challenge and embracing it and really going for it, because it's exciting and we know we're up to it."
So far this season, Glory has beaten Victory 2-1 at Geelong, in round 13, and drawn 3-3 with it at home in round 15, after falling 3-1 behind. It also beat Victory 4-2 in an FFA Cup quarter-final that went to extra-time.
"I look at Wanderers from the last two years and they were always hard to beat and I think we're that hard-to-beat team this year," Jamieson said. "Teams know when they're playing us that we're hard to beat.
"Against Victory we've got a great record so far this year and with those results we've made a bit of a stance against people doubting whether we're good enough.
"Once we're comfortable in a game we can really go for it and shake teams up."
Perth's star striker, Irishman Andy Keogh, hasn't scored in its last four games and hasn't scored from general play in six games, but he has scored every time he has played Victory. A penalty in that round-15 game was his most recent scoring effort against any team.
Jamieson says Keogh remains confident and thrives on the challenge of playing against the big clubs.
"We've had three games against Victory this season and haven't been beaten, but I wouldn't call it a bogey thing," Jamieson said.
"We see Victory as a big club, a confident club with a lot of confident people there, and we like to try to prove them wrong by beating them.
"It's a hyped-up game this week and that will make for an intense clash, I'm sure."
