Soccer: Phoenix expecting to play on

Phoenix coach Ricki Herbert. Photo / Supplied

Wellington Phoenix coach Ricki Herbert and his playing squad all expect to suit up for Sunday's match against Gold Coast United at Westpac Stadium.

Gold Coast have been thrown in to turmoil this week after Football Federation Australia (FFA) revoked the licence of controversial club owner Clive Palmer.

The mining magnate has come under scrutiny during the past few weeks due to negative comments he made about football, while his side have played in front of tiny crowds this season and prop up the bottom of the A-League.

After Palmer's licence was stripped on Wednesday there was talk this weekend's game could be postponed, but Herbert didn't think that was an ideal situation and had told his players to prepare as normal.

"We are planning for Sunday. We haven't heard anything different, so it's all good," he said today.

"I think the game will go ahead irrespective, it's probably important to get the fixture out and we are comfortable with that and probably comfortable with where it sits at the moment."

Herbert's insistence on playing the game is logical considering Gold Coast always struggle at Westpac Stadium, including being on the other side of the Wellington club's biggest win when they hammered the men from the Glitter Strip 6-0 in 2009.

With only four weeks to go, the Phoenix need to keep up the pace in a tightly-contested league to ensure they can finish in the top four and book themselves a home playoff game.

Phoenix goalkeeper Mark Paston said none of the players had been affected by the chatter surrounding the potential postponement of the game.

"Nothing's changed to be honest," he said. "We just assumed the game's going ahead and that they're going to bring a side over that's looking to win, so obviously it's going to be a hard game."

Last night, Perth jumped ahead of the Phoenix to grab third spot on the A-League ladder, but a Phoenix victory on Sunday would take them back in front of the Glory.

After the Phoenix picked up a vital 1-0 win in Sydney last weekend, which included another clean sheet for Paston, the big custodian said he felt in good touch, although he conceded three goals for New Zealand against Jamaica in an international friendly on Wednesday night.

"Obviously disappointed to cop three the other night, but football's like that sometimes. There's not always clean sheets for goalkeepers. Nah, I'm feeling pretty good about myself and how I'm playing."

After spending time riding the pine behind Tony Warner during the season, it was against the Gold Coast in January, when Paston was given a return to the starting line-up and he responded with a clean sheet as part of a 1-0 win.

Despite Gold Coast's poor form in Wellington, Paston didn't think three points were a given for his side this weekend.

"Records mean nothing. They're there to be broken and not so long ago we were struggling to win away from home and that's all changed, so it doesn't really mean a lot."

Gold Coast may sit dead last in the A-League but their last two results have been draws with the high-flying Central Coast and a star-studded Melbourne Victory outfit.

Meanwhile, Phoenix winger Daniel has been ruled out for the season with a crack in his ankle and Herbert said a decision would be made next week on whether they would add a replacement to the squad.