Football: Phoenix know winning can deliver first plate

Michael McGlinchey and Nathan Burns return for tonight's game. Photo / Getty Images

The Wellington Phoenix have their fate in their own hands.

They have four games before the A-League playoffs - win them all and they finish top.

Such a finish would see them claim their maiden Premiers Plate, while they would also secure home advantage throughout the playoffs.

The congested nature of the A-League ladder means they could finish as low as fifth, given only two points separated the top five teams heading into this weekend's round.

The Melbourne Victory, also in the playoff hunt, have a game in hand on the Phoenix but that advantage could be scrubbed if Wellington beat them at Westpac Stadium in the capital tonight.

Two of the Phoenix's final four outings are against top-five teams, which means they're essentially six-point games. Winning would help the Phoenix and also damage the hopes of a close rival.

After hosting the Victory today, the Phoenix travel to Melbourne to meet sixth-placed City next week before hosting the Central Coast Mariners on April 17. They round out the regular season with a home fixture against Sydney FC, also firmly in the title race, on April 26.

"There's a good chance we are going to meet the likes of Sydney and Victory [in the playoffs]," Phoenix coach Ernie Merrick said. "So this is a perfect opportunity to learn a lesson: How they play, what are our strengths and how we can cash in?"

Given Wellington play at home in three of their final four games, their chances of finishing near the top seem good.

"The priority in the last four games is picking up a win each time," Merrick said. "It's about the result. Obviously, a good performance gives us the best opportunity, but it's not about pretty football. It's about winning."

Wellington were brought back to earth last week when beaten 3-0 by Sydney FC in the capital but that game comes with an asterisk given they were without several players who were on international duty.

Importantly, Michael McGlinchey and Nathan Burns are back for tonight's meeting with the Victory and Merrick said despite their heavy travel schedule, they had returned to Wellington in good shape.

"It's only 90 minutes that they have to work for. It's not too much to ask of them, and they're well-paid," Merrick said with a grin.

The attacking influence of that pair has been crucial to Wellington's rise in the A-League this season, and Burns, who has scored 13 goals, has been in particularly hot form in the past month.

The Phoenix have been one of the A-League's most entertaining teams this season and Merrick said that wouldn't change as they approached the playoffs.

Their clash with the Victory is the match of the round and could be a thrilling spectacle between two sides who love to have a go.

Wellington will be without Albert Riera (suspension) and Vince Lia (hamstring), which has prompted a reshuffle that could push McGlinchey to the top of the midfield to play behind three forwards.

"I've got a lot of strikers to choose from and I'm pretty keen to get as many of them on the pitch as possible," Merrick said.