There is no escaping the fact that Wellington Phoenix face another must-win A-League game at home this weekend as they jockey for a place in the top six.
Sunday’s match against eighth-placed Newcastle Jets is followed by away matches against Adelaide United and Sydney and a final home clash against North Queensland Fury and the pressure is on the seventh-placed Phoenix to deliver the points at Westpac Stadium.
Given Wellington’s dismal record on the road it is pressure coach Ricki Herbert and his squad are well used to.
“We’re comfortable with it, especially at home,” captain Andrew Durante said.
“We’ve got everything to play for. It’s in our hands.”
“It’s a massive game for us. Newcastle are so close behind us. We want to break away from them and cement our place in the top six.”
“We’ve struggled on the road all year so these home games are super important to us.”
In Wellington’s favour is their good record at home. They have won their past four matches at Westpac Stadium, scoring 12 goals and conceding just one in the process.
One of those was a 4-0 thumping of a struggling Jets side in mid-December.
But Durante is not expecting such an easy ride on Sunday, particularly given what is at stake.
“Hopefully it’s a scoreline like last time but I don’t think it will be a game like that,” the skipper said.
“I think it will be a lot tighter.”
“They’ve got a lot to play for, as do we, and I think you’re going to see two teams that are going to give everything.”
Herbert benched Nick Ward and Marco Rojas for the rescheduled midweek match against Brisbane Roar on the Gold Coast but the pair will return to the starting line-up on Sunday with Daniel and Chris Greenacre making way.
Durante is expecting both to pick up where they left off against Perth Glory where Ward got on the score sheet and Rojas tormented the defence constantly and had a hand in a couple of the Phoenix’s four goals.
“Marco terrorised the defence in the last game. He’s been doing it most games he’s played and we want more of the same from him. He’s been fantastic, said Durante.
“Wardie has been fantastic at home as well and we’re expecting them to get at the defenders and create chances for Dylan (Macallister) up front.”
