Soccer: Brisbane to test Phoenix record

The Phoenix have struggled for form of late. Photo / Getty Images

Wellington Phoenix's unbeaten home record in soccer's A-League could come under serious threat tomorrow.

An out-of-sorts Phoenix who are struggling to settle on a regular starting team face the high-flying Brisbane Roar, and form alone suggests the visitors may pose the biggest challenge yet to Wellington's remarkable two-year, 24-match unbeaten streak here.

Brisbane are sitting pretty in second spot with just one loss in 12 matches and will have few fears about visiting Wellington, who are seventh with just three wins from 11 outings and yet to deliver the consistency their talented squad demands.

There is no doubt Wellington lift at home but they have started to look vulnerable even here and Brisbane, arguably the most aesthetically-pleasing team in the league, have the form, confidence and quality to severely test them.

The home team welcomes All Whites midfielder Simon Elliott as an injury replacement and the evergreen 36-year-old will add much needed composure, technique and a wide range of passing to a struggling midfield.

Elliott can expect to start, international transfer clearance permitting, in a holding midfield role with two of Tim Brown, Vince Lia and Nick Ward as coach Ricki Herbert, still searching for the right personnel and system, reverts to a 4-3-3 formation.

"I think he can dictate the pace of the game for us, probably more than what we've had," Herbert said of Elliott.

"He's very confident and capable on the ball and I think he'll enjoy that responsibility role and engaging other players further forward who can go on and win matches. We probably haven't quite seen enough of (the midfield) getting in the box and creating chances so hopefully it frees them up a bit."

Socceroo Jade North, out of favour for the past two matches, could slot in at right back.

"He's kind of been thrown in too and it's new for him here," Herbert said when asked why North was on the outer.

"He hadn't had a lot of football, coming here and I think the national team was a strong priority for him. He's done really well there and he's got a foot in the door which is important but this is where he can kind of keep that form going week-in, week-out.

"It's just a bit of patience with him."

Paul Ifill, quiet in recent weeks, a rejuvenated Leo Bertos and Chris Greenacre are expected to comprise the front three, with the raw Mirjan Pavlovic possibly the one to drop out from the 0-3 loss at Adelaide 11 days ago.

There is a good argument to introduce targetman Dylan Macallister, who has also found himself on the outer, but it appears unlikely.

Tomorrow's match is the first of six -- four at home and two away -- in what shapes as a season-defining November for the Phoenix.

They are four points off the top six and, with an away match at Perth on Sunday, need three points to stay in touch.

Brisbane beat Wellington 1-0 at Brisbane in August, former Phoenix striker Kosta Barbarouses scoring the winning goal.

Meanwhile, Herbert said left back Tony Lochhead, whose absence has thrown the balance of the side out, is progressing well after groin surgery and could be three to four weeks away from a return.

- NZPA