With just one win and five points deducted in the wake of last year's "Playergate" saga the Villagers are at the bottom of the points table after three rounds.
"We've made a slow start because we've got a lot of new guys. But we're picking it up and we'll go hard for the Maddison Trophy again," Phillips said referring to the Bay's most prestigious premier club rugby trophy which is contested after the Nash Cup.
A Karamu High School product, Phillips represented the Bay at under-16s level for two years and made the Hurricanes 16s tournament team after helping Hawke's Bay win the 2010 Canes tournament in Gisborne.
He also had two years in the Hawke's Bay under-20s team and against tasted Hurricanes title glory during one of those campaigns.
"I would like to play for the Magpies in the future if the opportunity comes up but at the moment I'm concentrating on club rugby and my busy work commitments," said the Unison line mechanic.
He ranked his forwards coach with both of those title-winning Bay teams, Hawke's Bay Rugby Union's current sponsorship manager Dan Somerville, and Havelock North's former forwards coach Simon "Cowboy" Halford as the best coaches he has played under. The 2014 Maddison Trophy winner's medal recipient ranked former Havelock player Luke Ottley as one of the best and toughest club players he has played with or against.
"Luke was such a good club man and he was there for such a long time. At international level All Black Dane Coles is the best ... I watch him and thrive off him," Phillips said.
He is rapt the team which beat the Villagers 19-16 in last year's Maddison Trophy final will be the Villagers' opponents today.
"I would love to get a win against Pirates. But at the same time we know they will be hurting after last week's loss to Napier Old Boys Marist and we know they will come out firing."
Expect the Pirate team to spoil Phillips' 50th and win by 11 points.
Tech Group of Companies Napier Technical No8 Levi Guildford will miss his side's Park Island encounter against leaders HBI Insurance Brokers Napier Old Boys Marist after receiving a two-match suspension for retaliation in the Texans' win against Tamatea last weekend. NOBM should win this match by 12.
One of the Tech coaches, Steve Lloyd, has received a one-game suspension from his club for the manner in which he reacted to the suspension.
Unbeaten K9 Petfoods Clive's Farndon Park match against MAC has the potential to be the closest of the round. Clive should win by seven.
Expect Carters Frame and Truss Taradale to return to the winning path with a 15-point home victory against Tamatea. Ansin & Monteith Hastings Rugby and Sports have the potential to beat Northfuels Central by 12 at Elwood Park.
