KEY POINTS:
To have any chance of taking the points from tomorrow's trip to Gosford, the Wellington Phoenix will have to break the drought - and that has nothing to do with the weather.
In their two Hyundai A-League outings against the Central Coast Mariners at the picturesque Bluetongue Stadium, the Phoenix have yet to score a goal or pick up a point - beaten 2-0 and 3-0 in their inaugural season transtasman trips.
"We have struggled there," admitted Phoenix coach Ricki Herbert before he and his players flew out yesterday. "For whatever reason, we have only got one point from them and that was at home earlier this season."
The teams clashed five weeks ago in round four, taking a point each from a scoreless draw. Before that, the Phoenix scored their only win over Lawrie McKinna's team, beating them 1-0 at home in the first round of the Pre-Season Cup.
Both teams are coming off seventh round away draws.
The Mariners stormed back from 0-3 with three goals in 18 minutes, including two from Mile Jedinak, to snatch a 3-3 draw in Adelaide.
The Phoenix scored first and last - with Shane Smeltz penalties - to finish 2-2 with Newcastle a fortnight ago.
"We have four points out of a possible six from our last two games," said Herbert. "We have to maintain that momentum."
He is able to put out a reasonably settled side, although midfielder Richard Johnson was a late withdrawal after being named in the travelling squad.
Johnson has been diagnosed with shingles and faces a lengthy spell on the sideline.
His place was taken by returning Leo Bertos, who had shown something close to his best form in a midweek friendly with Hawkes Bay United - won 5-1 by the Phoenix. Goalkeeper Glen Moss, who missed two games through injury, played 75 minutes of the game at Newtown Park but Herbert is unlikely to start him tomorrow, especially given Mark Paston's solid efforts in Moss' absence.
Jeremy Christie, who played off the bench in Newcastle, picked up a groin injury midweek and has not travelled.
With Johnson out of the equation, John McKain, back from injury, could play a holding midfield role, leaving captain Andrew Durante and Karl Dodd to again team up as central defenders.
In today's game, Newcastle host leaders Melbourne Victory and Sydney have the long trip to play Perth in tomorrow's other game.
Mariners v Phoenix
Bluetongue Stadium, Gosford, 5pm tomorrow (live SS2)
Referee: Ben Williams
Central Coast Mariners (from): Pedj Bojic, Bradley Porter, David D'Apuzzo, John Hutchinson, Adrian Caceres, Dylan MacAllister, Paul O'Grady, Andrew Clark, Nigel Boogaard, Matthew Osman, Alex Wilkinson, Matt Simon, Danny Vukovic, Sasho Petrovski, Mile Jedinak, Andrew Redmayne, Mark Bosnich.
Wellington Phoenix (likely): Mark Paston, Tony Lochhead, Andrew Durante, Karl Dodd, Ben Sigmund, Tim Brown, John McKain, Leilei Gao, Shane Smeltz, Adam Kwasnik, Vaughan Coveny. Substitutes, Glen Moss, Michael Ferrante, Daniel, Leo Bertos.
