David Ball knows how rare Wellington Phoenix's opportunity is over the next two months.
New Zealand's A-League Men club sit on top of the ladder and have the chance to win a first piece of silverware in their 17-year history.
Ball, 34, started his professional career in the same year the Phoenix were founded.
In that time, he's won three medals.
"Some people I know have never won anything in 17 years. That's how hard it is to win," the former Manchester City youth player told AAP.
The forward's most memorable moments have all come in England, earning promotions with Peterborough United, Fleetwood Town and Rotherham United.
All were earned through the tough-as-nails play-offs, a back-up route afforded to the best teams in the league that don't finish in the automatic promotion places.
Ball is three from three in play-off finals, when fans enjoyed their day out at England's biggest grounds - Wembley and Old Trafford.
Should the Phoenix finish in the A-League's top two, they will face a similar format to those play-off games in their finals run: a home-and-away tie before a one-off final.
Ball's know-how in a largely inexperienced squad could prove crucial.
Aside from three-club A-League winner Kosta Barbarouses and recent recruit Youstin Salas, who has titles in Costa Rica, the club has few players who have tasted success.
"For the next two months (I've told young teammates) to put everything aside. This is the most important thing because it can change a lot of things for you," Ball said.
"Success can take a long, long time to come around again ... but you're able to create a memory for life."
Ball is enjoying an unexpected late-career revival in Wellington, where he is loved by fans for his team-first mentality, famously playing through the pain of a ligament tear on his big toe for weeks as the Phoenix chased silverware in 2022.
He was rewarded with a long-term deal that will take him through next season.
Fighting fit this time around, Ball hopes to add two more years onto that stay, taking him to eight seasons in New Zealand.
"I want to play 20 years professional football from 17 (years old). If I can get to 37, that's the aim," he said.
Wellington's run to the finals continues on Sunday against Brisbane Roar at Sky Stadium.
Ball looms as a crucial part of Giancarlo Italiano's plans against the Roar, with prolific goalscorer Oskar Zawada out, and Barbarouses one of five players to have endured a long trip back from Egypt after international duty with New Zealand.
