Football: Phoenix top the table with six to go

The Phoenix will soon turn their attention to their run to the playoffs. Photo / Getty Images

Wellington team become A-League leaders after victory over Perth on Saturday.

The Wellington Phoenix will look over their shoulder this week and see the A-League's chasing pack.

After their 2-1 victory over Perth in Western Australia on Saturday night, Ernie Merrick's side have vaulted to the top of the ladder with six regular-season games to play.

There's a slight disclaimer on it as the second-placed Melbourne Victory are only two points behind and they have a game in hand but, for now, the Phoenix can refer to themselves as the league leaders.

"We've gone from being the hunters to the hunted and teams will be really keen to knock us off," Merrick told Radio Sport.

"Being top of the league is terrific. The boys deserve it. They've worked really hard."

Wellington's win over Perth was made more impressive given they didn't have the services of regulars Nathan Burns and Alex Rodriguez, who were injured.

"There's no doubt that, judging by the singing of the [team] song after the match, that they were extremely happy and excited about where they're at," Merrick said.

Last year, the Phoenix's lack of depth hurt them at the back end of the season but they were able to move Joel Griffiths and Vince Lia into the starting line-up during the weekend and they didn't miss abeat.

"We rely on a structure that the players have bought into. Defensively everyone knows what their job is and going forward I give the boys a lot of freedom," Merrick said.

Fijian international Roy Krishna provided both goals - he has nine for the season, the fifth-most in the league - in the win over Perth.

The Phoenix will soon turn their attention to their run to the playoffs and they will play at home in four of their final six games.

They travel to Brisbane on Sunday to meet the resurgent Roar, who are trying to secure their place inside the top six, before returning to play Sydney FC the following week in Wellington. The Phoenix round out the season with games against the Victory, Melbourne City, Central Coast and Sydney FC (again).

"It's not a case of liking it or it being in our favour," Merrick said of their final six games. "It's really a case of the boys setting their goals and accepting the challenges and just trying to play consistently.

"Every run is tough. It's the same for every team and we seem to be coping well with the challenges."

Burns and Rodriguez are likely to be available for the match against Brisbane, which will give Merrick further options.

They will run into trouble when they meet Sydney in the capital on Sunday, March 29 as that contest is in a Fifa window and a collection of Phoenix players will be away on international duty.

Midfielder Roly Bonevacia is expected to confirm this week whether he will take up an offer to represent Curacao, which would take another soldier out of the barracks for Merrick in two weeks.

3 things about Roy Krishna

*Scored two goals against Perth.
*The Fijian international has been a revelation this season.
*Has nine goals for the season, the fifth-most in the league.