Soccer: Headaches for Herbert ahead of tough test

Tony Lochhead could be a late call-up for tonight’s match against Melbourne. Photo / Getty Images

Ricki Herbert has plenty on his mind heading into tonight's A-League catch-up with high-flying Melbourne Victory at Etihad Stadium.

While his priority is turning around a limp effort on Friday night which saw his team dumped 2-0 in Perth, he has other concerns - and not only to his Wellington Phoenix players.

While Manny Muscat ended the game in the west with a nasty gash on his cheek, he is expected to be available tonight. But Vince Lia will be missing after copping his eighth yellow card of the season and a two-match suspension. Lia was one of six Phoenix players booked in a sometimes spiteful clash which highlighted the season's worst penalty attempt - a shocker from Eugene Dadi against his old club.

Tony Lochhead, left at home with a crocked groin, has recovered quicker than anticipated and could be a late call-up for the game in Melbourne.

For the home team, the last of the season's catch-up games gives them the chance of leap-frogging Sydney and back to the top of the table. A draw would be enough for Ernie Merrick's team to regain top spot.

Merrick is confident his charges can deliver.

"We have definitely qualified for the finals so we have ticked off our first objective," said Merrick after a 2-0 win over Adelaide United. "The second one is to finish in the top two.

"But this is the time now we are in control of everything in the three-way battle for the prized top-two finish.

"We caught them on the break that many times and every time we caught them out we could have punished them," said Merrick who watched Tom Pondeljak put the Victory ahead after just 22s. Captain Kevin Muscat completed the scoring with a penalty in the fifth minute of added time at the end of the match.

It was another disappointing effort from the South Australians who finished second last season but have beaten Melbourne only once in their past 17 encounters. Adelaide had six players booked in a match in which only two of their eight strikes were on target. They are bottom of the table.

Herbert's other concern was in seeing his World Cup contender Jeremy Brockie stretchered off at Dairy Farmers Stadium when he was chopped down by a late, nasty challenge from Michael Zullo.

He was only booked by referee Gerard Parsons for his gutless tackle which sent North Queensland Fury's Brockie to hospital with a broken leg.

Refusing to give up on the World Cup, Brockie said: "I'm still a chance.

"I've been told it could be between eight and 10 weeks after surgery and a rehab programme. It has been a tough season for me with injury."

Coach Ian Ferguson also had to make do without his captain and marquee player when Robbie Fowler refused to play off the substitute's bench, preferring instead to watch from the stand and take no part.

Ferguson said he would try to sort the matter out before the Fury's home game against Newcastle on Saturday.

There will be little respite for Melbourne this week.

After tonight's game with the Phoenix they must prepare to fly north to play Gold Coast at Skilled Park in the round opener on Friday night. The Phoenix are at AMI Stadium in Christchurch to play Adelaide on Saturday while Perth are at home to play Central Coast Mariners on Sunday.