KEY POINTS:
With the Wellington Phoenix's final two A-League round-robin soccer matches being against the table toppers, a win against Sydney on Sunday is vital.
Only three of 21 rounds remain before the playoffs, the Phoenix are one point outside the top four and coach Ricki Herbert says they need to win all three to be assured of a place.
"With three out of three I think you would be very unlucky not to make it," he said.
The Phoenix travel to Sydney on Saturday with a psychological advantage, having won both previous matches 2-1 - both home and away - and with Sydney hurting from previous losses.
"They've lost four on the bounce now, so I'm sure they won't want to finish their season losing either.
"So it will be a tough one for us, but one that we can go into with confidence and good belief," Herbert said.
That confidence was boosted with a 3-0 win over Newcastle in Wellington on Sunday, making it five wins and a draw from the Phoenix's last eight matches.
Herbert said the win was likely to have kept the team's season alive, and admits Newcastle could easily have pulled ahead first if it wasn't for some outstanding saves from goalie Glen Moss.
"Terrific performance, and he is a talented goal-keeper. It has kept our season alive that's for sure."
However, all teams had experienced the near misses which wins or losses often hinged on.
"When you look back over the year you're going to get a little bit for and a little bit against," Herbert said.
"Glen was in dynamic form three weeks ago when we drew 1-1 with Perth. Their goal-keeper made a string of saves in the last 20-minutes where we should have gone on and won too."
If the Phoenix take maximum points away from Sydney they still have an uphill battle with matches against Adelaide in Wellington the following weekend, before travelling to take on Melbourne.
The record against Melbourne this season is a win and a loss, while Adelaide have thumped the Phoenix, 0-3 and 1-6 - both times on Australian soil.
Herbert said at this stage of the competition the play was unlikely to be as flamboyant as in past matches and the records against Adelaide and Melbourne did not necessarily count for much.
"It's a tough one. I think with the games and the way the season has gone, anything could be possible.
"But I think it's certainly in our best interests not to get beaten in any of them," he said.
However, the team was staying focused on Sydney and feeling confident.
"It's a good, tight-knit group that is ambitious. If we can get across there and get three (points) from that I think it will put the cat among the pigeons."
- NZPA
