Soccer: Ifill on Phoenix bench for Sydney encounter

Paul Ifill. Photo / Getty Images

Talismanic Wellington Phoenix striker Paul Ifill will see some action against Sydney FC this afternoon but his return to Hyundai A-League action will be via the substitutes' bench.

Phoenix coach Ricki Herbert yesterday confirmed Ifill's return after missing three games through injury but is not tempted to pitch him in from the start.

"Paul has got through training this week and is ready to play," said Herbert, who will welcome Ifill's return as he seeks much needed strike-power for a team that has scored just 18 goals in 14 games. Thirteen of those goals have been scored at home with at least one in every home game. "He will get some game time but just how much we will decide later."

Ifill said the extra intensity of match-play would give him an indication if he was fully recovered.

"I feel good again but, like I've said before, you feel great in training most of the time and it's that sort of extra 10-15 per cent that you can't replicate," he said. "I've put my hand up to be involved. Whether I'm from the bench or from the start, it's down to Ricki."

Herbert is mindful of next Sunday's clash at home against Perth Glory.

While he was not saying as much, it seems likely Herbert will put out the same XI today as that which lost 2-0 in Adelaide on Friday.

The Phoenix go into the match just a point and a place behind Sydney and victory would catapult the home team back into fourth place.

"We can take some confidence from that win but we are fully aware of what a big, strong club Sydney are," said Herbert.

With seven away and six home games remaining, Herbert is mindful of the importance of picking up maximum points at Westpac Stadium.

"The league is so close that we have to get all the points we can here but, more importantly, we have to do better away."

In a first for the competition, all 10 teams will play today. The feature match promises to be between leaders Central Coast Mariners and visiting Melbourne Victory at 9.45pm (NZ time).

- Additional reporting APNZ