KEY POINTS:
The odds for the new A-League season have the Wellington Phoenix as the longshots. It, surely, is a view not shared by coach Ricki Herbert.
The TAB has Herbert's side at $20, with the Melbourne Victory side they beat 2-1 away last weekend as $2.50 favourites. Sydney FC,
who Melbourne meet for the wooden spoon in this weekend's last round Pre-Season Cup action, are second favourites at $4.
"We are not going to win every game," said Herbert, "but we will be hard to beat."
Herbert, who puts his side out at Westpac Stadium tonight against Newcastle Jets in the play-off for fifth, has almost a full squad to select from and is well-pleased with the work the players have done in the build-up to the Hyundai A-League season-opener against Melbourne in two weeks.
"They have worked their socks off. Despite our slow start as we got the players together, they are right up there fitness-wise," said Herbert. "Again, we will use the Newcastle game for a certain reason."
The players will then be given the weekend off, have a full-on training week and then another weekend off before preparing for the much-awaited August 26 clash with the defending champions.
Herbert expected a crowd of around 8000 for tonight's game but well over double that for the first-round meeting with Melbourne.
Even with Steven Old and Jacob Spoonley in Fiji with the NZ Invitation team, Greg Draper still in Christchurch, Costa Barbarouses with the NZ under-17s and Tim Brown being held back a little longer as a precaution as he recovers from injury, Herbert has an impressive list from which to name his team to play the Jets.
Mark Paston is likely to get his first start in goal, Cleberson will return to take his place alongside Karl Dodd in central defence, with Vince Lia set to make his first appearance at fullback.
Ross Aloisi, Brazilians Felipe and Daniel and Jeremy Christie are likely to play in midfield, with Royce Brownlie and Shane Smeltz up front, as Herbert takes the opportunity to rest Vaughan Coveny.
Richard Johnson, like fellow Australian Lia, has yet to see any action with his new club but might get some off the bench tonight.
New Zealand Invitation coach Jonathan Gould has named a promising side for tonight's match against the Fiji national team in Suva.
It and a second match, in Lautoka on Sunday afternoon, are part of the Fifa/Oceania Football for Life initiative aimed at raising funds for victims of the April tsunami that struck the island of Gizo in the Solomon Islands.
Fiji coach Carlos Buzzetti has a squad of 32 for the matches, which he is using to prepare for this month's South Pacific Games in Samoa.
These double as World Cup qualifiers.
How they line up
WELLINGTON PHOENIX V NEWCASTLE JETS
Westpac Stadium, Wellington 7.30 tonight
Phoenix: Mark Paston, Vince Lia, Cleberson, Karl Dodd, Tony Lochhead, Ross Aloisi (c), Daniel, Jeremy Christie, Felipe, Royce Brownlie, Shane Smeltz. Substitutes, Glen Moss, Steve O'Dor, George, Richard Johnson.
NZ INVITATION XI V FIJI
Suva 7.30 tonight, live on Sky Sport 3
NZ: Jacob Spoonley, James Pritchett, Steven Old, Aaron Scott, Craig Wylie, Jeff Campbell, Andy Baron, Jeremy Brockie, Craig Henderson, Daniel Ellensohn, Stuart Hogg, Sam Messam (one to be omitted). Substitutes, Roy Bell, Sam Jasper, Joel Mathews, David Samson, Sam Mathews, Cole Peverley.
Sunday's second game in Lautoka, 3pm live, Sky Sport 2.