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There was a sense of déjà vu for Ricki Herbert with Wellington Phoenix being handed a home game against defending champions Melbourne Victory in the first round of the new A-League season in August.
In the seven matches he had at the helm of the New Zealand Knights
at the end of last season, Herbert's only defeat was the 4-0 reversal to the Victory in Melbourne - the game he was forced to play with a patched-up team because many players had made themselves unavailable.
In his other six games, Herbert steered the beleaguered Knights to three wins and three draws, including holding Central Coast Mariners 0-0 at Gosford - a ground which will become familiar to Herbert and the Phoenix, with their first and last Hyundai A-League away games scheduled for the coastal town.
They will also play Central Coast away in first round Pre-Season Cup action on July 14.
"I have no problems with playing Melbourne first-up," said Herbert. "From everybody's perspective it is a great game to get. Clearly they were the best team last season, and having the chance to play them at home like this is a good one to get."
Herbert is pleased to have avoided more than one journey to Perth, in being scheduled to play the Glory twice at Westpac Stadium.
While the Wellington-based side have been given two Pre-Season Cup games at home - July 20-22 and 27-29 - a decision has yet to be made on where they will be played. It appears likely the Basin Reserve will be used rather than taking the games against Sydney FC and Queensland Roar away from the capital.
Herbert's side face five matches in the pre-season tournament - three in pool play and two play-offs in the lead-up to the season proper.
"Five games at that time is just right, especially given that the first two pre-season matches can be used as trials without the need to contract players," he said.
In releasing the draw yesterday, Football Federation Australia confirmed that clubs will contract a minimum of 20 players to a maximum of 23, which must include a minimum of two goalkeepers.
The salary cap has increased from A$1.6 million to A$1.8 million ($2 million). Each club will be required to register a minimum of three youth (under-20) players on their roster.
A club will be able to sign an injury replacement player only for a minimum of six weeks if it has fewer than 15 rostered players available for selection. Each club is limited to four foreign (non-Australian) players - apart from the Phoenix, who do not have to regard New Zealanders as foreigners.
All matches, from August 28 through to the grand final, on February 17, will be televised live.
