NSL giant's A-League ambition at centre of Cup final

Whether South Melbourne win the Australia Cup final or fall short, the historic powerhouse believes it has already proved it deserves a long-craved A-League licence.

The NSL giants will face modern powerhouse Melbourne Victory in Saturday night's sold-out blockbuster at AAMI Park.

It comes fresh off South launching their latest bid to join the A-Leagues after previously being overlooked for Melbourne Heart, then Western United.

"We want to be in the A-League yesterday," co-president Bill Papastergiadis told AAP.

"And are we ready? We were ready six years ago when we made our bid for 2018 when we had the best boutique stadium in the country, the supporter base that we've now seen in numbers coming to these big line matches.

"The sponsorship, the playing budget, has been doubled in the last year as has administrative overheads."

Papastergiadis noted in joining the OFC Pro League, South were up to scratch from a licensing perspective and they would be ready to enter the A-Leagues next season if permitted.

"So, we're a professional football club with a professional licence ready to participate in the A-League," he said.

"This is a club that's ready-made for the A-League. It's got the package."

Papastergiadis felt South had shown they wouldn't "cannibalise" Victory and Melbourne City's supporter bases.

"What we've seen in this match and in the Australian Championship matches is that we're bringing a new wave of supporters back. We're reconnecting foundation football with the A-League," he said.

Becoming the first non-A-League club to lift the Australia Cup certainly wouldn't hurt South's chances.

"I think the story about South has already been written well prior to the ball being kicked on Saturday," Papastergiadis said.

"And in regards to supporter engagement, social media interest, media frenzy, and in particular, the sellout of a stadium - which has never happened in a Australia Cup match - within practically a day and a half.