Two things could be coming to a close as the ASB Premiership kicks off this weekend - Waitakere United's stranglehold on the trophy and the Auckland club's long-running duopoly.

The All Whites are well versed in demanding travel schedules but what they are about to undertake over the next two weeks is at the extreme end of the scale.

The fact that five Phoenix All Whites are playing this evening, a few hours before they fly to North America, is ridiculous.

The Phoenix will need total commitment to the cause to earn their first victory of the season when they play Perth today.

With the timing and circumstances of Winston Reid's withdrawal from the All Whites after injuring an ankle in training, it is easy to get carried away with hyperbole but Ivan Vicelich provides some context.