KEY POINTS:
The Wellington Phoenix have flirted with the playoffs all season without really getting to first base.
Now is the time for them to make their move. To get the girl, they need to take a chance and that means collecting all three points against the Newcastle Jets today.
While his coach might downplay the significance of their meeting with the Jets, midfielder Tim Brown is clear on what they need to do.
"We are at the stage where we have to win games," he says. "I don't think a point is going to be enough on the weekend. We need to win.
"The playoffs are dominating conversation because we are close to them. We are not satisfied with the fact we are fifth but that makes it realistic. We control our own destiny to a point."
Historically, 30 points has been the magic number to guarantee a playoff place, meaning Wellington need a further eight points from their four remaining games.
Win today, and their ambitions to become the first New Zealand side to make the A-League playoffs are very much alive.
Lose, and they will face the highly unlikely task of needing to win their last three games to have a chance.
Even if they miss out, this will still be the most successful season for any New Zealand team in the A-League but expectations have risen since the dark days of the Knights.
Standing in their way today are defending champions the Newcastle Jets. They have lost a little of their lustre, however, sitting on the bottom of the table with their season virtually over, having won just three games.
Wellington have a good record against them this season, clawing a 2-2 draw in Newcastle and backing that up with a 2-0 win at the Cake Tin, although the Jets had two men sent off.
Today, though, the Phoenix will be without captain Andrew Durante, who was sent off in the agonising last-minute 3-2 defeat to Queensland last weekend, and Jon McKain, who picked up his fifth yellow card of the season.
"Jon and Andrew are key characters for us, both from a leadership point of view and playing-wise, and you can look at it as the glass is either half empty or half full," Brown said.
"I see it as a real positive. I think sometimes when opportunities like this come about, particularly with guys who haven't probably played as much as they would like to, it can have a positive effect."
Ben Sigmund and Daniel are likely to replace Durante and McKain in what are expected to be the only changes to last weekend's starting 11.
"There's a real edge to training because we are getting to the finish line, the business end of the competition.
"The pressure probably ramps up a bit and the need for results goes up. It certainly puts everyone on edge but I don't think that's a bad thing. I think there would be something wrong if we weren't feeling it."
