Hume City avoided the A-League sides in the draw for the last 16 of the FFA Cup and will face fellow National Premier League side Sydney Olympic.
In another bonus for City, they will host the match at Broadmeadows Valley Park Stadium on September 1.
City went into the draw after winning its round-of-32 match against Brisbane Strikers 4-3 with a goal in the dying seconds. Coach Louie Acevski said playing at home again was a massive boost for his side.
“I’m ecstatic,” he said. “It’s like having an extra man with the singing and chanting.
“It will help the boys on the pitch.”
Acevski said he didn’t care which side City was drawn to face but admitted not playing an A-League side would help them.
“You want to look to go as far as possible without playing an A-league side, but you will eventually have to play one,” he said.
“Regardless of whether it’s an A-League side or not, it will be a challenge.
“We’re going to do the right preparation and you don’t know what will happen.”
Acevski said Sydney Olympic was a side which had been around the top of the New South Wales NPL competition the past two years.
“They’re going well in their own competition and are fourth on the ladder,” he said.
“They played in the grand final last year and are a very stable club. They’re an old National Soccer League club.”
City looks set to go into the clash at close to full strength for the match.
“Joey Franjic is our only injury and has started training again,” he said. “We’re hoping he’ll be available for the FFA Cup. The time frame we have is that he will play in two weeks.”
Meanwhile, City returned to the winners’ list in the NPL on Sunday, beating Heidelberg United 2-0 with second-half goals from Marcus Schroen and Theo Markelis.
In NPL 1, Whittlesea Ranges came from two goals down against St Albans Saints to take home one point.
The Ranges were 2-0 behind after 18 minutes and looked as if they were heading for a defeat.
Saints were reduced to 10 men when Nicholas Sarbin was sent from the field for a second yellow card.
Ranges capitalised on the advantage and converted twice before half-time through Attlia Ofli.
Ranges had chances in the second half to get the winner but couldn’t convert.
The draw sees the Ranges remain eighth on the NPL 1 west ladder.
