KEY POINTS:
New Phoenix striker Adam Kwasnik might seem laid-back about facing his old club on Sunday in the first round of A-league soccer pre-season games.
But the seasoned campaigner has no doubts about where his loyalties lie as the new-look Phoenix line up against the Central Coast Mariners in
Wellington.
"I can't wait. Whether I start the game, or just play some part in it, I just want to win and that's the most important thing," he said.
"It's going to be a bit different going from a yellow shirt to a black one, but I'm not worried about that. I just want to get out there and get that winning result."
There couldn't be a greater contrast between the fortunes of the two clubs in last season's league - the Mariners made the grand final before losing to the Newcastle Jets while the Wellington-based Phoenix finished bottom of the table.
But a swathe of new signings, among them gritty Australian defenders Andrew Durante and Jon McKain, has left the Phoenix brimming with confidence as they begin their pre-season campaign.
Kwasnik was the Mariners' top scorer with 15 goals from 62 A-league games during his three-year stint at the club, but decided it was time for new challenges.
"I spoke with family and my girlfriend, and decided I needed a fresh start. I know I've made the right move coming to the Phoenix, and I want to prove that to everyone back home, as well as here."
The 25-year-old has only been at Wellington a couple of weeks, but is already favourably impressed.
"People might criticise me for slagging the club that I've left, but I'm not trying to do that in any way. The Phoenix's professional set-up is unreal. From the players to the people in the office, the coaching staff, the facilities... absolutely everything is first-class. It's been awesome."
Kwasnik has no real preference when it comes to his place in the Phoenix line-up, be it up front with striker Shane Smeltz or a role as an attacking midfielder.
"I've struck up a good combination with Smeltzy already, but it doesn't really bother me, as long as I play the games.
"It'd be nice to play that three-pronged attack just behind the main man up front, but I'll have to wait and see what the gaffer's got up his sleeve."
The gaffer - Phoenix and All Whites coach Ricki Herbert - isn't looking too far ahead.
"The Mariners have been a tough side for us, from a result point of view it'd be quite nice to turn that round."
Herbert said the Phoenix had drawn a tough group in the pre-season cup - they travel to the Sunshine Coast on July 26 to do battle with the Queensland Roar, then have an August 3 match against Sydney in Wollongong.
So although Kwasnik is keen to take the field on Sunday, Herbert is wary of taking a narrow-minded approach, preferring to look at things from more of a long-term perspective.
"I'm sure Adam would love to be there from a sentimental point of view... But the season's where we're heading and we need to make the right calls at the right time.
"We've got seven new players - there's plenty of permutations, so it'd be silly for us not to look at the three games and use people.
"We've got depth in the squad and we need to look at it."
- NZPA
