Harry Ngata: Time to make it click on the road for Phoenix

Marco Rojas of the Phoenix. Photo / Getty Images

Ronald McDonald used the term 'make it click' referring to a nation wide campaign encouraging kids and parents to buckle up in the car. Similar could be said for the Wellington Phoenix - well sort of.

If there was ever a time for a team to make it click then the next week for the Phoenix would be perfect timing. They will line up against third placed Adelaide on Saturday then travel to Sydney to play Sydney FC the following Wednesday. They return home to finish off the regular season against cellar dwellers the North Queensland Fury.

Critics will write that if the Phoenix are to be title contenders they will need to win away from Westpac Stadium. Fact. The team from Wellington has the worst away record in the league. They have accumulated five points from a possible thirty six so far this season. Not championship winning material. However in this A-League format that counts for zilch as finals football can throw the form book out the window.

On the other hand their form at home is going from strength to strength. It's a pity they will only play one more regular season game at home on Feb 13th. They are a team in red hot form at the moment and looking at how the teams sit going into the last few games if all goes to plan they will probably finish in sixth position. Again they will be relying on results falling their way and Melbourne did them a huge favour in beating the Jets overnight.

This part of the equation has had a habit of favouring the Nix all season.

Ricki Herbert won't have it all going his way however as he will be without two crucial figures in Ben Sigmund and Manny Muscat who will miss the next two games through suspension. Both players have been stand outs for me recently. They are the glue that holds their central structure together.

Jade North will be a worthy replacement for Sigmund returning to the line up after a heart breaking Asian Cup campaign with the Socceroos. I have a feeling Chris Greenacre will get Muscat's spot although we may see the team revert to a 4-4-2 formation with Greenacre partnering the in form Dylan Macallister up front. Ward and Rojas will occupy their wide roles with Vince Lia and Tim Brown marshalling the midfield.

Hoping to sneak under the yellow card radar will be skipper Andrew Durante who is one yellow away from a two match suspension.

Football can be a killer sometimes. The Phoenix were minutes away form a fantastic result at the Brisbane Roar last week.

A point there would have eased the pressure somewhat on the Adelaide and Sydney games. Any sort of points in either of these two games would be fantastic and boost confidence knowing that a sixth place finish would mean another trip to Adelaide or possibly the Gold Coast.

Character and squad depth will be tested yet again and Ricki Herbert will need to be shrewd in how he uses his bench. James Musa will more than likely come into the squad as defensive cover while Mirjan Pavlovic may also get a call up and may play a role depending on results. They can take heart that whilst the away results have not been ideal their overall performances have been solid.