Soccer: Victory fitting adversaries for Herbert's 100th

Leo Bertos of the Phoenix attempts to control the ball. Photo / Getty Images

It has been quite a week for Ricki Herbert and tonight he adds another milestone when he joins the select group of coaches to have been in charge for 100 A-League games.

The match against Melbourne Victory at Westpac Stadium follows Herbert's recognition in the New Year honours and the accolades bestowed on him and the All Whites with a string of nominations for the Halberg awards.

Herbert, 49, coached the ill-fated New Zealand Knights for the final five matches of that club's 2006/07 campaign and has had 94 games in charge at the Phoenix since 2007/08.

Ironically, the Victory were Herbert's first Hyundai A-League opponent. His first time in charge at the Phoenix was also against the Melbourne club. Tonight he rounds out the trifecta.

"We lost the first one with the Knights [4-0] and drew the second with the Phoenix [2-2], so maybe we can go one better against them this time," said Herbert, who is proud of his achievements with the Phoenix.

"It does signal that football in New Zealand is good and stable and personally I'm very proud of it. To do it pretty much with one club, too, has been great and I've thoroughly enjoyed it."

While such milestones are there to savour, it is back to business tonight with the push for a spot in the play-offs foremost in his and his players' minds.

In another season punctuated by some disappointing results on the road, Herbert will again turn to their home form as a truer indication of their chances. He need look no further than their last home game when they thumped Newcastle Jets 4-0 after leading 3-0 at the interval.

Since then they drew 1-1 in soggy conditions against North Queensland away but must now refocus, make the most of a mini-break, and get back to their winning ways as they contemplate their last eight regular season outings.

"It's a big game for us," said the Phoenix captain, Andrew Durante. "Both Melbourne teams winning their last games have really put the pressure on us.

"We've really got to go out there and take it to them."

Durante is set to return to the starting lineup alongside Ben Sigmund in central defence allowing Manny Muscat to return to his preferred deep midfield role with Tony Lochhead to return at left back after a long absence.

Both teams have lost players to the Socceroos, with Jade North missing from the Phoenix and livewire striker Robbie Kruse from the Victory.

Nick Ward is expected to start in place of Leo Bertos, who is hampered by a groin injury, but Herbert has yet to settle on his final attacking unit. The Victory are without top striker Archie Thompson (injured).

A-LEAGUE

*Wellington Phoenix v Melbourne Victory
*Westpac Stadium, 7.30 tonight (live SS1).