Soccer: Herbert eyes changes for Brisbane tie

Ricki Herbert, coach of the Phoenix. Photo / Getty Images

Ricki Herbert is certain to make changes to his starting XI for tomorrow night's rescheduled Hyundai A-League clash with leaders Brisbane Roar but is not giving up on picking up points at Skilled Park.

"It will be really important that we try and put our best foot forward against Brisbane," said Herbert. "Why can't they be beaten?"

Among the changes contemplated by Herbert is the likelihood of Marco Rojas being rested - or perhaps used off the bench - in an effort to have him ready to what is looming as a crucial match with Newcastle Jets back in Wellington on Sunday.

While Brisbane lose their real home advantage in having to travel an hour south to the Gold Coast for tomorrow's match, they go into the game fresh after having not played for more than two weeks.

Melbourne Victory and Melbourne Heart hold fifth and sixth places - two and one point ahead of the Phoenix, but with Herbert's team having one and two games respectively in hand. Their 4-0 win over Perth on Sunday also brought their goal difference back into the equation.

In tomorrow's late game, the Victory, without captain Kevin Muscat who was sent off for a sickening tackle in the 2-2 draw with the Heart, are away to doomed North Queensland Fury and should pick up points.

The Phoenix are a point ahead of the Jets with both teams having five to play and with the Phoenix now two goals to the good on differential. After their clash at Westpac Stadium on Sunday, the Jets are away to the Victory four days later. The Heart face Brisbane away on Saturday.

Despite their 8-1 win over the Fury, Adelaide were forced back to third place when Central Coast came from 0-2 at halftime to draw 2-2 with Sydney FC in Sunday's late game.

Marcos Flores and runaway golden boot leader Sergio van Dijk scored hat-tricks for the South Australians who scored four in each half against a Fury side who are well out of the play-off race and with doubts concerning their future gathering momentum.

The positive from that game was in both teams getting through without a card, of either colour, being shown.

In contrast, the 32,321 fans who turned up for the Melbourne derby at Etihad Stadium watched in horror not only at Muscat's crude season-ending challenge on young Adrian Hahra but as six Victory players (including Muscat for an earlier offence) and two from the Heart were booked by Chris Beath.

The Victory frittered away a 2-0 33rd minute lead as John Aloisi scored just before and soon after halftime to claim what might prove a valuable point for the Heart.

With owner Clive Palmer throwing the gates open at Skilled Park, 14,783 fans poured in to watch Gold Coast hammer Newcastle 5-1 with Bruce Djite scoring three and Shane Smeltz one for the home side.