The text messages and phone calls will be flying between Wellington and Port Vila tonight as Ricki Herbert is kept in touch with the A-League action as his Phoenix host high-profile Sydney FC at Westpac Stadium.
Herbert, on All Whites duty, has handed the coaching task to assistantsWayne O'Sullivan and Stu Jacobs but will be on edge as the Phoenix attempt to bounce back from last week's limp effort against Queensland Roar and keep fading top four-hopes alive.
New signing Kristian Rees is certain to be pressed into action immediately to help cover the absence of the five All Whites with Herbert in Vanuatu, and marquee player Ahmad Elrich who is serving his mandatory one-match suspension after being red-carded in Brisbane.
Rees will come in at the back and almost certainly join Karl Dodd and returning Steve O'Dor in an all-Australian rearguard which could see Steven Old pushed forward to midfield alongside Ross Aloisi and Daniel, with Vince Lia and Michael Ferrante perhaps handed the wide roles.
In Shane Smeltz's absence, Vaughan Coveny will take attacking responsibility.
Sydney remain one of the season's under-achievers, with a 4-4-4 record from the opening rounds. Their goal count - 12-12 - is part of the reason they remain in the bottom half of the Hyundai A-League table. But with players like Tony Popovic, Alex Brosque, Juninho (when he is fit), Ufuk Talay and Mark Bridges, the worm must surely turn soon.
On the field
Wellington Phoenix V Sydney FC
Westpac Stadium, Wellington, tonight 7pm
Phoenix (likely):
Glen Moss
Kristian Rees
Karl Dodd
Steve O'Dor
Steven Old
Ross Aloisi (c)
Daniel
Michael Ferrante or Richard Johnson
Vince Lia, Felipe
Vaughan Coveny.
Substitutes: Stuart Webster, Royce Brownlie, Greg Draper, Costa Barbarouses.
Sydney FC (from): Clint Bolton, Iain Fyfe, Nikolas Tsattalios, Mark Rudan, Tony Popovic (c), Robbie Middleby, David Zdrilic, Brendon Santalab, Ben Vidaic, Alex Brosque, Adam Biddle, Juninho, Ufuk Talay, Michael Bridges, Ivan Necevski.
