Illawarra's finals hopes are on life support following a 3-1 loss to Blacktown Spartans on Sunday.

Needing a win to give themselves a four-point buffer on their rivals, the Stingrays could not muster the performance needed at JJ Kelly Park.

They trailed 1-0 at the break and were forced to chase the match when Linda O'Neill added a second for the Spartans shortly after half-time.

Any chance of a comeback was virtually extinguished when Katelyn Leadbeatter was sent off for a second yellow card with half an hour remaining.

The Stingrays pulled a goal back through Michelle Carney from the penalty spot but conceded a late third on the counter.

"Once we had Katelyn sent off we were behind in the game anyway and three points was what we needed, so I wasn't going to drop someone back to be less attacking," Stingrays coach Graham Shaw said.

"It was always a risk and we got the reward of one goal but just couldn't get there in the end."

Nine cards were handed out in a stop-start affair.

The Stingrays may appeal the suspension of Leadbeatter ahead of two crucial matches to finish the season.

They will now need to rely on results elsewhere and win both of their remaining matches if they are to progress to the final four.

Blacktown's meeting with Manly in the final round of the season is likely to determine their fate.

Depending on results, goal difference could come into play in the final standings.

Illawarra hold the worst for-and-against record in the top-five sides, so may also need to pile on the goals in their final league matches.

"It is similar to last year now. It was in our hands for the last two weeks and unfortunately we haven't got across the line but we know if we win these two then someone might do us a favour," Shaw said.

"Hopefully we can get in there because we are of the belief that if we get in there we know that we rise to the occasion of those big games.

"We have shown we can beat the top teams in Rams and what not, so it will be a case of getting there."

Illawarra travel to Newcastle to face the Emerging Jets on Sunday.