Soccer: Bertos returns to light up Phoenix

Leo Bertos will be brought in to start at midfield in the game against the Mariners tomorrow. Photo / Getty Images

The clash
Wellington Phoenix v Central Coast Mariners:
Westpac Stadium
Tomorrow 4pm (live SS3)
Referee: Strebre Delovskiby Terry Maddaford

The chance to play two post-season matches at home is all the incentive the Wellington Phoenix need to finish the regular season on a high by beating Hyundai A-League leaders Central Coast Mariners tomorrow.

The Phoenix go into the game at Westpac Stadium equal on points and goal difference with third-placed Perth Glory, who play Melbourne Victory tonight. If the Victory, who beat the Phoenix comprehensively last Friday, beat the Glory at nib Stadium, the Phoenix would need only a point from tomorrow's game to finish third.

Should they then go on to beat the sixth-placed side - Melbourne Heart, Newcastle Jets and Sydney FC are in that mix - in the first week of the play-offs, the Phoenix would then be guaranteed a home game in the following week's minor semifinal. For that, and a number of other reasons, tomorrow's game has all the ingredients of a blockbuster.

The Mariners, two points ahead of Brisbane Roar at the top of the table, run out against the Phoenix fully aware a win will guarantee them the minor premiership even before a ball is kicked at Skilled Park, where the Gold Coast host the Roar in the last game of the round.

With that in mind, the Mariners will be keen to attack and hand the Phoenix their third loss of the season in battles between the two teams.

While coach Graham Arnold will be able to put out an unchanged team from the one which beat Adelaide United 1-0 last week, he will also be mindful of the tough Asian Champions League match his team had in drawing 1-1 with top Japanese side Nagoya Grampus midweek.

The Mariners won 2-1 at Westpac in round five and 2-0 at home last month but since then have not been impressive, losing to Melbourne Heart and Perth and playing out draws with Gold Coast and Sydney before the win over Adelaide.

Ricki Herbert expects Paul Ifill, who has been sick, to take his place in what will be a largely unchanged team. He will go with the same defensive unit and bring Leo Bertos in to start in midfield alongside Vince Lia, Tim Brown and Dani Sanchez.

"It should be a good game," said Herbert. "The guys know what is at stake and will be up for it. We are not taking too much notice of what the Mariners have done recently."