Soccer: Phoenix eye home wins record

Wellington Phoenix captain Andrew Durante in action. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Wellington Phoenix captain Andrew Durante is hoping history is their friend when they square off with the Newcastle Jets in what promises to be a season-defining battle at Westpac Stadium tomorrow.

With the Phoenix's play-off hopes hanging in the balance, three points are vital and the home side will be keen to add to their good record against one of the teams they have the upper hand over.

In 12 such clashes, the Phoenix have won seven and lost four.

They have the added incentive of chasing a club record fifth successive home victory.

In November the Jets won 1-0 at home but the Phoenix bounced back to win 4-0 at Westpac Stadium a month later.

Durante is looking to home support to help get them over the line.

"Our supporters, especially the Yellow Fever, have been fantastic right through, but if ever we needed them it is now," said Durante.

"Everyone realises how important this game is and the fans can help us."

The Phoenix go into what Durante describes as a "massive" game on the back of a heart-breaking 2-0 loss to Hyundai A-League leaders Brisbane Roar at Skilled Park on Wednesday night.

"We had worked so hard, kept to our game plan, and didn't really feel threatened defensively," said Durante who could only despair in watching his deflection lead to the Roar's opening goal late in the game.

"The Roar found it hard to get strikes on goal and I don't think they would have scored had they not got that stroke of luck. It was really unfortunate. I just stuck a leg out and Danny [Vukovic] had no chance."

Coach Ricki Herbert will stick with the squad he took to the Gold Coast, but will not make any decisions on the starting XI until after they have trained at the match venue this morning.

"With the short turnaround we won't do much before Sunday and we'll see how the players pull up over the next couple of days," Herbert said. "We have to be a good chance of beating Newcastle given our recent performances.

"The players know what is required of them. They were disappointed with what happened against Roar, but we have everything to play for and making the playoffs is still in our own hands."

Crowd numbers should be helped by the 5000 tickets released by Phoenix owner Terry Serepisos at $5 each with the proceeds going to the Queensland Flood Relief Fund.

A-League

Wellington Phoenix v Newcastle Jets
Westpac Stadium, 5pm tomorrow (live SS3)

Referee: Chris Beath