KEY POINTS:
The Wellington Phoenix are aiming to cash in at all costs on the attack against the Central Coast Mariners in tonight's game - the last for the New Zealand franchise in their debut season.
The home side are right in the thick of the battle at the top of the Hyundai A-League, which has gone to the wire and is set to be decided on goal difference.
Working on the assumption - and that is always dangerous - that the top four teams, who are all drawn against teams from the bottom half of the table, will win, the calculators will be whirring tomorrow night to find the finishing order with the top two teams having the bonus second life in the play-offs.
"The scenario is very clear," said Phoenix coach Ricki Herbert. "They have to score goals."
They also have to win.
Herbert points to the Mariners' poor end-of-season run. After setting the pace for most of the season, they have conceded 12 goals in their last three games.
The Phoenix have been right in the goal-scoring race all season but have conceded too many goals - often very early or very late in their games - to be in contention but, as Herbert points out, they are only 11 points out of the lead shared by Queensland Roar, Sydney FC, Central Coast and Newcastle Jets.
"I'm sure there are not many people who thought we would be that close," said Herbert. "I'm not too concerned where we finish up."
Once the result of last night's game between Newcastle and Perth Glory at EnergyAustralia is known, the Phoenix will know what they must do to get away from the foot of the ladder.
There will be changes in the Phoenix line-up tonight, with Herbert set to return to a four-man defence after playing with a back three in recent matches.
With Steven O'Dor released to return to his law studies in Australia, Herbert is set to play Vince Lia, Karl Dodd, Kristian Rees and Tony Lochhead on defence in a 4-3-3 formation. He will have plenty of experience in midfield with captain Ross Aloisi back from suspension to join his vice-captain Tim Brown and Michael Ferrante, leaving Shane Smeltz, Daniel and youngster Carlos Barbarouses on attack.
Steven Old and Vaughan Coveny did not travel yesterday, while marquee signing Ahmad Elrich is likely to come off the bench, as will Jeremy Christie and either Felipe or Greg Draper.
HOW THEY WILL LINE UP
* Central Coast Mariners v Wellington Phoenix
Bluetongue Stadium, Gosford, 9pm today (live SS3)
* Central Coast (from): Matthew Trott, Matt Simon, Paul O'Grady, Andre Gumprecht, John Hutchinson, Tom Pondeljak, Tony Vidmar, Andrew Clark, Nigel Boogaard, Alex Wilkinson, Adam Kwasnik, Danny Vukovic, Sasho Petrovski, Mile Jedinak, John Aloisi, Alvin Ceccoli.
* Phoenix (likely): Glen Moss, Vince Lia, Karl Dodd, Kristian Rees, Tony Lochhead, Tim Brown, Ross Aloisi, Michael Ferrante, Shane Smeltz, Costa Barbarouses, Daniel. Substitutes: Mark Paston, Jeremy Christie, Felipe, Ahmad Elrich, Greg Draper.
HERBERT GOES ON THE HUNT FOR NEW TALENT IN EUROPE
Ricki Herbert will not lock himself in a room and watch 300 DVDs in his search for replacement players for the Phoenix' second A-League season.
Rather, he and possibly club chief executive Tony Pignata are set to head to Europe in February and March to "look at players". Before that, Herbert will fly from Sydney tomorrow to Europe to complete part two of his Uefa pro licence course - the sport's highest coaching ticket.
While he remains mindful of the need to bolster his Phoenix squad, he is in no hurry to make any decisions.
The clubs are allowed four "imports" - players from outside Australia and New Zealand - in their 23-man squads. With Daniel already signed for next season and fellow Brazilian Felipe also having a second season option which the club will take up, Herbert has room for two players to replace other Brazilians Cleberson and George who were released during the season. There is also provision for a marquee player.
"We haven't spoken to any [currently contracted] players yet," said Herbert. "They are all contracted through to June 30."
Herbert said all Phoenix players would be released from January 27 and be back in Wellington on March 3.
"We are still unsure what is happening with the O-League but in any case, from March to July we will be building towards next season. We will have our squad in place a month out from the start of the next season. That gives us a much better lead-in than we had this season."
Of his squad - allowing that young Australian defender Steve O'Dor has been released from the second year of his two-year contract to return to his law studies - Herbert has Ross Aloisi, Vince Lia, Ahmad Elrich and Kristian Rees coming off contract. He has the potential to sign seven new players.
"We are doing a review, which has already started and will be finished by the end of the month ... I already have a list of current A-League players who are on one-year contracts.
"We have proved we are as good as any team in the league. Conscious of that, I am not going to rush into the new signings." But, in a telling statement, Herbert did say: "In 2008, the Phoenix will play with a back four. We will be fully aware of that when we go into recruitment."
The Phoenix played the first half of the season with a back four before switching to a three-man defence, but the players showed a better grasp in playing with four.
