Soccer: Durante joins team in Perth

Andrew Durante. Photo / Mark Mitchell

His newborn daughter has played her part now Phoenix captain Andrew Durante hopes he can reciprocate when he leads his team out for the third match of the new A-League season.

Given a day's grace by coach Ricki Herbert so he could bring wife Sarah and first child, Adalyn, home after her birth, Durante has joined his teammates in the West Australian capital for their toughest test of the campaign thus far.

"It was great to spend a night with them before flying off," said Durante before leaving yesterday. "I guess I will be spending the flight catching up on sleep."

Facing one of only two teams above them after a flying start to their season, Durante said they were determined not to leave Perth empty-handed.

"The journey home is tough and doubly so if you have got nothing from the game. I would like to think we can get at least a point but want it to be three. I know a lot of people wrote us off before a ball had been kicked. Considering what we have been through, you couldn't really blame them. Our off-field problems were well publicised and then we suffered long-term injuries to Lucas Pantelis, Vinnie Lia and Mirjan Pavlovic. Despite that, we are still getting the job done which is a credit to the players and staff."

Facing a buoyant Glory side who have won two-from-two to share the joint lead with defending champions Brisbane Roar will not be easy, especially as they will be confronted by former Phoenix sharpshooter Shane Smeltz who has wasted no time in surging to the top of the golden boot and, this week, was voted the best striker in the Hyundai A-League.

Herbert is well aware of Smeltz' ability but will back his settled back four of Durante, Ben Sigmund, Tony Lochhead and Manny Muscat to maintain their solid start to the season in which they have conceded just one goal.

Herbert has taken both goalkeepers on the long trip but must decide between Mark Paston, back in contention after sustaining a rib injury in the season opener, and Tony Warner who had an armchair ride in Sunday's win over Newcastle Jets.

Elsewhere the only other change is likely to come in midfield where Tim Brown, suspended after a poor refereeing call in the win over the Jets, will be missing. American Alex Smith, signed as injury cover, looks likely to take his place.

Nick Ward, who has had his red card overturned, will hold his place in a midfield that has done a good job in their two early-season outings. Herbert has taken Brent Griffiths, Cameron Lindsay, Jimmy Downey and Niko Tsattalios as cover with one to miss out.

Glory v Phoenix

nib Stadium, Perth
Tomorrow 9.30pm (live SS2)

Likely Phoenix line-up: Mark Paston or Tony Warner, Manny Muscat, Ben Sigmund, Andrew Durante, Tony Lochhead, Nick Ward, Alex Smith, Leo Bertos, Daniel Cortes, Dani Sanchez, Chris Greenacre.