Soccer: Durante taking comfort from playoff history

Andrew Durante. Photo / Getty Images

Captain Andrew Durante believes playoff experience gained last year holds the Wellington Phoenix in good stead ahead of tomorrow's A-League soccer elimination semifinal against Adelaide United at Hindmarsh Stadium in Adelaide.

Wellington prevailed in two playoff thrillers at home last year -- a penalty shootout victory over Perth Glory and an extra time win against the Newcastle Jets -- and Durante said that experience would be invaluable as they go about the difficult task of toppling Adelaide away in a do-or-die clash between the third and sixth-placed teams in week one of the playoffs.

"There's a lot of pressure in semifinal football and last season we went through two fantastic home games with a lot of pressure on us to win, especially being at home and we came through good," Durante said before the team left for Australia yesterday.

"Everyone was questioning that because none of us had really been in semifinals before, could we get through it? We did it with flying colours.

"I think you need that experience and we're a year wiser now. I think we're going to be quietly confident."

Wellington go into the finals on the back of some solid recent form, including a breakthrough 1-0 win at Adelaide just two weeks ago. It followed a string of hefty defeats in the 'City of Churches' and has given the Phoenix confidence.

"I think what we did really well against Adelaide last time was we were very well organised, we were disciplined, everyone knew their roles -- it wasn't one or two people just running off chasing the ball, we did it at the right time," Durante said.

"They're a very good team, it's going to be a big crowd, it's going to be intimidating, but we've been there before. We've had last year's semifinal run as experience and I think everyone's just excited by it.

"If you look at our history on the road, it's not very good reading, but who knows? We're the type of team that can just step up to any occasion and stun a lot of people."

Wellington's poor road record this season -- they have won two, drawn two and lost 11 matches for eight points out of a possible 45 -- suggests stringing four wins on the trot to win the title is a pipe dream, but coach Ricki Herbert is taking a one-game-at-a-time approach.

"Three wins to get there (to the final), away from home, who knows?," he said.

"Nobody will expect us to win three on the road so that might help us. I think we'll do OK."

Durante returns after a two-match suspension, meaning coach Herbert's toughest call will be who to leave out of the back four.

He could leave makeshift defender Troy Hearfield at right back and omit either Jade North or Ben Sigmund from the central defence, or opt to move North or Sigmund to right back and demote Hearfield to the bench.

"Athletically, Troy probably gives you a bit more and he was good against Adelaide a couple of weeks ago (in a 1-0 away win) so it will be difficult to shift him, but I wouldn't say I wouldn't," Herbert said.

Midfielder Vince Lia returns to the squad after a hamstring injury, and Herbert will give him until tomorrow to prove his fitness.

The coach's preference is to revert to a 4-3-3 with the old firm of Lia, Tim Brown and Manny Muscat in midfield, leaving a front three of Rojas and Nick Ward on the flanks, and probably the in-form Dylan Macallister in the middle.

Paul Ifill, sidelined with a leg injury since December, will start on the bench.