KEY POINTS:
Ricki Herbert is looking for more of the same when the Wellington Phoenix run on to Suncorp Stadium against Queensland Roar in their last match of the first round of the A-League tonight.
More goals and with that, more points and another victory over former Socceroo coach Frank Farina.
Last season, in his hastily cobbled-together stint at the end of the New Zealand Knights fiasco, Herbert, in just his second match in charge, steered the beleaguered Auckland team to a surprise victory over Queensland at North Harbour Stadium. Tonight Herbert will again stay with the tried and tested apart from the enforced change following Daniel's all-too-soon one-match suspension.
Even so, it appears Herbert will simply revert to his earlier line-up and bring back midfielder Michael Ferrante.
"There are other options," said Herbert. "I'm taking 16 players so I will have to drop one anyway. Tim Brown showed us something in the time he had against Perth last weekend and will come into consideration."
The big match of the weekend will be played at the Sydney Football Stadium tomorrow when Sydney FC host Melbourne Victory in a clash of the two teams still favoured to meet in the grand final but who are only now finding their better form.
Meanwhile, it now appears Herbert's captain Ryan Nelsen is doubtful for the opening World Cup qualifiers against Fiji at North Harbour Stadium and in Lautoka.
Nelsen's English Premier League Blackburn Rovers' manager Mark Hughes was reported on the club's website yesterday as saying Nelsen was unlikely to play in this morning's Uefa Cup match against Greek club Larissa. Hughes also hinted Nelsen might not be considered for Monday's league game with Birmingham City as he continues to recover from a groin injury which has sidelined him for Blackburn's last two matches.
Should Nelsen recover, he would have to wait until Blackburn's next league game - at home to Reading on October 20 - to return to action.
Herbert said it was "most unlikely" he would call in a replacement should Nelsen be out.
