Melbourne City winger Andrew Nabbout says he's ready to gamble on his fitness and push to return from injury for the A-League grand final.
Nabbout fought back from an adductor tear to play in City's final regular-season game but aggravated the injury on his return and missed last week's semi-final win over Macarthur FC.
But the Socceroos forward, who scored five goals and delivered eight assists in his 13 games this season, is determined to face Sydney FC at AAMI Park on Sunday.
"It's a grand final, so you've got to roll the dice, don't you?" Nabbout told reporters on Wednesday.
"I've got five or six weeks after to feel the after-effects.
"So whatever it is, it is and I'm going to push and do everything I can to be ready."
Nabbout's early call to sit out the semi-final and was vindicated by young duo Marco Tilio and Stefan Colakovski both scoring against Macarthur.
"I'd made the decision two days before that I'd rather have someone out there at 100 per cent than me at 50 or 60 (per cent)," he said.
"It wouldn't be right for me to sit there and take someone else's spot who's ready to play. It wouldn't have benefited the team or me
"I made that decision two days before and it worked out for the best."
Nabbout was part of the Melbourne Victory squad that won the 2014-15 championship but wasn't in the team on grand final day.
He was injured when City sealed the premiers plate this season .
"I don't want to lift another trophy wearing a suit. I'd rather be lifting it in my playing kit," he said.
"That's the extra motivation for me to go out and contribute to the team success and what better way to finish it off than to lift the grand final trophy ... - in front of our home fans."
