Soccer: Muscat likely to play left back on Sunday

Manny Muscat's experience has likely won him a surprise start at left back for the Wellington Phoenix. Photo / Getty Images.

Manny Muscat's experience has likely won him a surprise start at left back for the Wellington Phoenix against the Western Sydney Wanderers on Sunday as coach Ernie Merrick takes the opportunity to rest Reece Caira.

Muscat, who has been a true utility since he arrived in Wellington in 2008, appears to be the favourite to take over from Caira who has been left out of this weekend's match-day squad.

Merrick felt Muscat's maturity garnered from more than 120 A-League appearances would give him a better grounding to deal with the pace of the Wanderers attack, while Michael Boxall was Merrick's other option.

A move to defence for Muscat means the midfield will likely be filled by Carlos Hernandez, Albert Riera, Vince Lia and Jason Hicks.

The Phoenix will field a powerful defensive line on Sunday with regulars Andrew Durante and Ben Sigmund at the centre of the matter, while the ever-improving Louis Fenton will start on the right.

Merrick stopped short of suggesting Muscat had the chance to make the left back spot his own for the rest of the season.

"I don't think that far ahead. I don't go from week to week either. I tend to look two to three weeks ahead,'' the Scotsman said.

"I just don't want to concede goals through naievity and slight errors, not just from the youngsters. Manny is certainly going to bolster a strong defence already with Glen Moss in goal and two All Whites centre backs and I thought Louie Fenton did a great job for the All Whites when he came on against Mexico. So I'm really impressed with the way we are going at the back there.''

Caira, who is only 20, started the first six games of the A-League season for the Phoenix but Merrick reasoned he didn't want to run his youngsters in to the ground.

"I've always believed that young players need some time in and some time out and after six games it's time to give Reece a bit of a rest.''

Jeremy Brockie will also miss Sunday's game with a minor hamstring tear and is expected to be on the shelf for a week.

Brockie's withdrawal will provide an opportunity for either Paul Ifill or Kenny Cunningham to start.

The Phoenix remain in ninth on the A-League ladder and are still yet to record a win this season, while Western Sydney are rolling in second place.