KEY POINTS:
Heartened by the team's strong defence last week, New Zealand Knights' coach Paul Nevin will almost certainly retain his centre-back pairing of Sime Kovacevic and Che Bunce for tonight's away A-League clash with Sydney FC.
Neil Emblen returns to the squad, but is unlikely to press his way into the starting XI, which promises to be the same as the one that beat Queensland Roar.
Nevin, like his Sydney counterpart Terry Butcher, is struggling to find more than 15 fit players.
He has released Hamza Mohammed and Campbell Banks from their short-term contracts, is not considering third goalkeeper Danny Milosevic, but is contemplating several options during this month's transfer window.
Young Michael White travelled to Sydney, but will play only if he recovers from a kick he took in training on Wednesday.
Also making the trip for the game at Aussie Stadium are Dustin Wells, who impressed on debut against Queensland, and Fernando, who was on the bench on Sunday.
But Nevin is not getting too excited by his team's second win of the Hyundai A-League season.
"We can't get carried away. It will not be remembered as our best performance," said Nevin. "I think we deserved better in the three matches we lost 0-1. But this week everything has been focused on Sydney City."
The record book is on the Knights' side. In both matches when they have scored first they have held on to win 1-0 over Adelaide and Queensland, whereas Sydney have won only three of the nine matches in which they have scored first.
"Sydney will be very wary of us given the result against Queensland," said Nevin. "They are in a similar position to us in that they are struggling to get a full bench."
Nevin's main concern remains in front of the goal, where the return has been pathetic.
"I thought we competed well on Sunday, and as well as the pressure we applied - which led to the own goal - we also hit the bar," said Nevin. "But the bottom line is we are not clinical enough to score the goals we need."
Nevin is impressed by what Adam Casey is bringing to the team.
"He is quick and does so much work off the ball, and deserves better. If he had scored that goal [the one which hit the bar] it would have given him a tremendous lift."
In a further boost, influential midfielder Jonas Salley was involved in the warm-ups on Wednesday, giving Nevin hope that he will return from injury for the match in Perth on November 26.
Sydney have named only 14 players including goalkeepers Clint Bolton and Justin Pasfield, for tonight's game.
Jeremy Brockie, used as a late substitute in Newcastle, and former Football Kingz midfielder Robbie Middleby, are included.
