Phoenix target A-League lead
It is impossible to perform at your peak every week of a 27-round season but the Wellington Phoenix won’t have any problems with motivation in Perth on Saturday night.
To the victor go the spoils – top spot on the A-League ladder as the race for the topsix finals intensifies.
Perth Glory, who led the league heading into round 21, have predictably been installed as favourites for the match at nib Stadium.
The Glory have beaten the Phoenix 2-1 home and away this season and while experts have waited for them to falter, their safety first, counter-attacking style continues to yield results.
Those tactics are unlikely to change on Saturday, given the Phoenix struggled to break down defensively-minded teams last month before bursting back to life with consecutive wins over Melbourne Victory and Adelaide United, two sides that match their own attacking aspirations.
The Phoenix also suffered a double setback during the week with the loss of leading goal scorer Nathan Burns (hip) and under-rated midfielder Alex Rodriguez (hamstring).
All action striker Joel Griffiths, who scored his first Phoenix goal against Adelaide, is expected to replace Burns while midfielder Vince Lia will make his 150th appearance for the club.
Lia, the only foundation player remaining at the Phoenix, joins Andrew Durante, Ben Sigmund and Manny Muscat in the 150 club. He is in line for a combative evening against a Perth side not afraid to roll up their sleeves.
‘‘We’ve looked at how we’d play against a team like Perth, that plays a 4-1-4-1 and are very defensive in their own half, they drop back and make it very difficult to get through their lines,’’ said Phoenix coach Ernie Merrick.
‘‘It’s about performing consistently and it’s about playing the teams that are near the top of the league and beating them away from home and showing that you’re willing to at least try to do that.’’
Muscat will return at left back after missing the Adelaide win through suspension, while Perth will be without midfielder Mitch Nichols, who was sent off in their 1-1 draw with Victory.