Sydney FC star Luke Brattan has revealed he and some of his team-mates were forced into hotels at around midnight as the A-League grand final tries to contend with changing COVID-19 conditions.
Melbourne City boast hosting rights for the decider against Sydney with the Australian Professional Leagues confirming on Wednesday the final will be held at AAMI Park on Sunday afternoon.
While restrictions are easing in Victoria, New South Wales is in the middle of an outbreak with growing concern the Sky Blues may struggle to travel inter-state later this week.
With grand final plans continuing to change, Brattan is now calling a hotel room home as the A-League looks to ensure the final can take place this weekend.
"It's pretty incredible. We'd been told that it's going to be in Melbourne on Sunday but then we got told a couple hours later that could change as well," Brattan told Breakfast with Vossy on Wednesday morning.
"I've been in four finals now so usually this week it's all about enjoying the week, the media, the excitement, the training, preparing for such a big game and usually you don't have to worry about these little speed bumps but it is what it is.
"COVID is part of the world now and we've just got to take it in our stride and prepare as well as possible.
"So last night, there's a few of us that live in the [COVID] hot spots, so we got a phone call last night saying, 'You need to pack up' and the club put us up in a hotel.
"Before 1am, so around midnight last night, we all packed up and got out of our homes, including some of the players with kids and families and all that. So we're in a hotel at the moment, out of those red zones.
"We're just going to get on with it, play it by ear and do everything we're told.
"Yesterday was meant to be our day off...but we all got called into training because the game had been changed to Sunday. So today will be off and we'll go into training tomorrow."
Melbourne City were forced to forfeit home-ground advantage last weekend for their semi-final against Macarthur FC and Brattan is adamant that the grand final should take place in Victoria.
"We don't want it here, we don't want it anywhere else, we want it in Melbourne," Brattan said.
"As a playing group we want them to host it. They deserve that. They finished top and it should be played there."
Sydney FC beat City 1-0 in last season's A-League grand final with Brattan teeing up Rhyan Grant for an extra-time winner at Bankwest Stadium.