The starting position in the qualifying group remains good despite the recent disappointing results. Austria Wien (26) are currently four points ahead of WAC (22) and seven ahead of FC Blau Weiß Linz (19) in the table and can therefore secure their place in the play-off semi-finals with a win in Lustenau. Next week, the Violets will host WAC at the Generali-Arena (Saturday, 11 May, 17:00) and then play Blau Weiß Linz on the road (18 May, 17:00).

Now that Sturm Graz have secured the Cup title and the Cup winner is definitely out of the top five in the Bundesliga, it is certain that the first team in the qualifying group will play the second team at home in the play-off semi-final. The winner will then play the fifth-placed team from the championship group in a back-and-forth play-off final. At stake is the last European Cup ticket, with which they will start in Q2 of the Conference League next season.

"Mentality, character, passion & greed"

"The aim is for us to win the qualifying group and play in the play-off. To do that, it's important that we pick up three points on Friday," says coach Michael Wimmer, who is calling for a better performance than the recent ones against Altach (2:2) and Tirol (0:1):

"Our aim must be to win every game at all costs - you couldn't really see that in these two games. We made it clear that it's not enough to play at 80 to 90 per cent: We need one hundred per cent from the first to the last minute. It's about mentality, character, passion and greed," explains Wimmer.

Opponents Austria Lustenau are still fighting against relegation and would need a win on Friday to keep their chances of staying up. "That makes our opponents very dangerous. I expect a very active Lustenau team that will try everything to win this game. We have to show the same determination as Lustenau," says Michael Wimmer.

Personnel news

Dominik Fitz (5th yellow card) and Johannes Handl (9th yellow card) are suspended. Luca Pazourek (torn muscle fibre), James Holland (torn muscle fibre in the back), Lucas Galvao (adductor) and the long-term injured Ziad El Sheiwi, Florian Wustinger & Marko Raguž are out injured.

"Nevertheless, we're travelling to Lustenau with a squad that knows what's important. Aleksa Ilić (19) and Sanel Šaljić (18) are two young players from the Young Violets and Stripfing respectively who have recommended themselves for a place on the substitutes' bench with their strong training performances with the squad," said coach Michael Wimmer. Marvin Potzmann & Fisnik Asllani, who recently celebrated their comebacks, were back on board when the team bus set off for Vorarlberg on Friday lunchtime.