Paul Ifill's hard work in the gym has paid off and the Wellington Phoenix striker is poised to make an appearance off the bench during Friday night's A-League soccer elimination semifinal against Adelaide United.
Ifill suffered a serious ankle injury in the Phoenix's 4-0 win over Newcastle Jets on December18, but will make the trip to Adelaide after coming through today's training session in Wellington unscathed.
While rehabilitating from his injury, Ifill set his teammates a challenge: "Get us into the finals and give me a chance to play again this season.''
The team rose to the challenge and, as was the case last season, mounted a late run that saw them finish sixth, six points ahead of seventh-placed Newcastle Jets.
"At times it didn't seem as if it was going to happen, on both fronts, but the team made it and I'm delighted to have made it as well,'' Ifill said.
"I felt good at training. I'm lacking a little strength-wise but have been working hard in the gym and it has paid off.
"Now it is a confidence thing. The specialist says there is nothing wrong structurally so I am happy on that front.''
Another boost for the Phoenix is the return of midfielder Vince Lia, who missed the games against Sydney and North Queensland Fury after straining a hamstring early in the Phoenix's 1-0 over Adelaide 10 days ago.
Captain Andrew Durante also returns from a two-match suspension to give coach Ricki Herbert a selection dilemma in the centre of defence where Ben Sigmund and Jade North played well against Fury on Sunday.
Diego Walsh, Toto Cornejo, James Musa and Mirjan Pavlovic have been dropped from the travelling squad, which is: Danny Vukovic, Troy Hearfield, Andrew Durante, Ben Sigmund, Jade North, Tony Lochhead, Tim Brown, Manny Muscat, Vince Lia, Nicky Ward, Marco Rojas, Chris Greenacre, Dylan Macallister, Daniel, Paul Ifill, Reece Crowther.
