7:05pm AEDT: The atmosphere at AAMI Park is nothing short of electric as the players head out for their warm-ups, with both ends in full voice. South Melbourne's end in particular - at the Yarra River end of the ground - is particularly noisy. 

6:55pm AEDT: You can catch up on each team's path to the final with our popular Australia Cup guide. 

Melbourne Victory had to make three trips to Sydney and one to Hobart, whilst Souths did things the hard way, falling 1-0 behind in three of their matches and squandering a 2-0 lead to Fremantle City in the other. They could surely be described as "character-building wins".

6:45pm AEDT: Here are the starting lineups for both teams. Most notably, South Melbourne have benched new signing Paulo Retre after he started in three of Hellas' four wins on the way here. 

Melbourne Victory have also benched two of their big new recruits - former Macarthur striker Harry Sawyer and Auckland FC premiership and championship winner Guillermo May.

6:30pm AEDT: The footballing rivalry that never was for 22 years... finally is! 

Active supporters from both clubs are already in loud voice 60 minutes before kick-off as a sold-out AAMI Park in Melbourne begins to fill up for the final of the 13th edition of the Australia Cup.

South Melbourne are attempting to become the first NPL club to lift the trophy after Sydney United 58 (2022) and Heidelberg United (2025) both fell at the final hurdle.