Football: Wellington face acid test against Auckland City

Former Auckland City midfielder Alex Feneridis. Photo / File.

If Team Wellington are to be considered genuine ASB Premiership title contenders this season, then they must pass tomorrow's big litmus test.

Wellington host league leaders Auckland City at Dave Farrington Park and, in a season that's only 16 weeks long, need a result to keep pace with the defending champions.

After four games, Auckland are already four points clear of second-placed Wellington, who sit two points above Waitakere United in third.

Wellington have recruited strongly since qualifying for the O-League last year, but their early record of two wins and two draws is perhaps a little underwhelming.

One of their strongest additions is 25-year-old midfielder Alex Feneridis, who has won four national league titles and been to four Fifa Club World Cups with Auckland, and knows exactly what it will take to beat them.

"We've dropped four points through late goals, but I don't think we've underperformed," Feneridis said. "We have so much strike power with guys like Niko [Bechar], Luis [Corrales], Henry [Fa'arodo], Jarrod [Smith] and Mikie [Gwyther], that I'm always confident we'll score goals, it's just a matter of finding consistency."

Feneridis walked out on the Auckland camp during their O-League campaign in Fiji earlier this year, and despite having a strong Northern League winter season with Glenfield Rovers was unwanted by either of the two Auckland franchises.

"I didn't hear anything from Waitakere to be honest and there wasn't much interest shown from Auckland after I pulled the pin in the O-League, but I was still keen to play so it was just a matter of sorting logistics. I have family in Wellington so it has made it a lot easier."

So when Wellington coach Matt Calcott picked up the phone in September, it was a simple decision for the rangy playmaker.

"I needed a change of scenery and a new challenge. I had been at Auckland City for a long time but knew it was time for something new. Matt gave me a call and I'd always been impressed with how they ran things down there and it's a good vibe and a good group of lads."

Feneridis said City's game plan was no secret; they look to dominate possession and then use the pace and trickery of Emiliano Tade and Ryan De Vries to open up the opposition's defence.

"They've always been the team that everyone looks to beat, I've been in their shoes and it can be tough; everyone steps up their game when they play you. But on the other side now, it's exciting. There's a great vibe around Dave Farrington Park and everyone is buzzing."

Feneridis and Rovers teammate Michael Gwyther both live in Auckland but fly down to train with the team on Thursday and Friday nights.

"To be honest, driving out to Te Atatu or Onehunga [where Auckland City train] four or five times a week from the middle of Auckland was worse than commuting to Wellington.

"I just drive to the airport once on Thursday, and then it's just a five-minute drive to the ground. It's worked out well."