Soccer: Phoenix expect big things

Tim Brown. Photo / Supplied

Phoenix midfielder Tim Brown wants today's game against the Brisbane Roar to be the start of something special.

He is not just talking about Dunedin's new covered stadium - though he is excited about the venue.

Brown, a foundation member of the Wellington club, has lofty ambitions for the Phoenix this season.

"The club has come a long way in five years. But we haven't really achieved what we want to do yet.

"It feels like it would be a great year to do something. We've got experience and we're quite settled in terms of personnel. And there's a sense that, for the first time, we're having a proper build-up to the season."

Brown played in Dunedin as a schoolboy and later with Miramar and he is pleased to be back in the city. "It's really great to be here, to have a look at the new stadium and to take a sort of Phoenix roadshow to Dunedin."

The A-League does not kick off for six weeks but Brown said the team have been working hard and the Roar game would be a good chance to see where they were at.

"The problem we sometimes have is getting a decent game in the pre-season. This is a big step up for us. It's our first chance to see how close we are to the top level."

The team includes Brown, Mark Paston, Ben Sigmund, Paul Ifill, Andrew Durante, Leo Bertos, Vince Lia, Maceo Rigters, Jimmy Downey and Niko Tsattalios.

Phoenix v Roar
Forsyth Barr Stadium, 5.30pm today

- OTAGO DAILY TIMES