Harry Ngata: Ifill gamble could spur Phoenix

Paul Ifill. Photo / Getty Images

In a season of indifferent form on the road the Phoenix will embark on perhaps their last trip across the ditch that many predict will replicate the Bill Murray movie Groundhog Day.

They boarded the plane yesterday bound for Adelaide with a real sense of confidence knowing a win would catapult them to the next round whilst a loss would see them exit stage left and a early holiday.

Being a one eyed biased Phoenix fan I also sniff a hint of optimism. They will welcome two inspirational figures back into the squad in captain Andrew Durante and Paul Ifill. I'm scratching my head as to what cards Ricki Herbert will deal here.

Durante had to be content with a spell on the bench earlier on this season after returning from his first suspension and it will be a very tough call to make on whether Ben Sigmund or Jade North will make way for the skipper.

The midfield looked solid again last week against the Fury with the return of Manny Muscat. His presence was clearly missed in a reshuffled line up in Sydney a week or so ago while a hamstring injury still hangs over the head of midfield lynch pin Vince Lia.

The gamble of Paul Ifill will no doubt throw mind games into the heads of Adelaide with the prospect of Rojas and possibly Ifill running riot down the flanks. He's prepared to take a punt and risk reaggravating his leg injury knowing that the extended off season will be more than enough time for rehabilitation.

For me the obvious tactical approach would be playing to your strengths. The Phoenix are second on the stats chart for balls into the penalty area. They are not going to pass their way through teams like the Roar or the Victory however they posses the fire power out wide to really cause Adelaide problems. What this will hopefully lead to is Adelaide's Brazilian left back Cassio being more conscious of this threat rather than employing his formidable attacking role.

Attacking has been the weapon that Rini Coolen's team has illustrated sublimely this season. They have scored 51 goals which is second only to the Brisbane Roar and in big Dutch striker Sergio van Dijk they have the leagues leading goal scorer netting 16 times.

But the player who has been pulling the strings for Adelaide is attacking midfielder Marco Flores. His technical ability, intelligence and mobility have been the catalyst and the supporting act to van Dijk with nine goals and eight assists.

They are a team that strike early in the opening 15 minutes of a game then again in the first 15 minutes of the second half. This is an area of the match that the Nix will really have to be alert to.

The Phoenix go into tomorrow nights game knowing that they beat Adelaide 1-0 in Adelaide a couple of weeks ago. Adelaide's recent form is rather poor only registering one win in the past four games with two losses and a draw.

The influence of Dutch coach Coolen and a disciplined recruitment strategy has really turned the club around this season. They were last season's wooden spooner's after being grand finalists the year before.