#2 or #3 or #4 (assuming Gavros and we are finalists) is the same difference. All places lead to the ECL. The only thing at stake is the championship of Thessaloniki. Do I care? Nope.
Clubs play at random (?) 10 games. Then there is a table. 1-8 go to last 16. 9-24 play play-offs to join the other 8 clubs. Youth League had the same with the two paths.