Soccer: Phoenix have unchanged lineup against Mariners

Ricki Herbert. Photo / Mark Mitchell

As he did with the All Whites, Ricki Herbert has taken a steady as she goes approach with his Wellington Phoenix side in naming an unchanged X1 for tomorrow's home clash with top of the table Central Coast Mariners.

The only change comes on the bench with goalkeeper Griffin McMaster, 27, joining the squad from Victorian Premier League club Oakleigh Cannons as a short term injury replacement for normal back-up Reece Crowther.

Crowther has just returned from a stint in Europe but is now sidelined for up to eight weeks after suffering a rib injury at training.

Herbert is still awaiting the arrival of Socceroo defender Jade North.

"We are hoping he will be here sooner rather than later but he is contracted to his club in Norway until the end of August," said Herbert.

"There is no problem with that but they are awaiting a replacement player before they can release him. I expect he will be available for the game in Perth on September 5.

"Given what we saw against Central Coast in terrible conditions last Friday night, I don't see any need to make changes. It was because of those conditions I decided not to play Toto [Chilean midfielder Oscar Roberto Cornejo] but I hope to give him some time on Sunday."

It is difficult to draw an accurate line on the Phoenix after just that one outing in conditions made impossible by the weather for constructive football but there was enough to suggest - especially when they went 3-1 ahead - that they will again be a team capable of scoring goals.

There is a little of the uncertainty in playing the Mariners now under new, but vastly experienced, coach Graham Arnold who has taken over from long-serving Lawrie McKinna.

"It will be interesting to see how they play under Graham Arnold," said Herbert. "Central Coast have always been a difficult opponent. We really want three points from this."

That would ensure their unbeaten record at the ground, already stretching over three seasons, would go to 21 A-League games - a feat few clubs could dare contemplate.

Central Coast, and former Wellington Phoenix, striker Adam Kwasnik will play his 100th A-League match - his 88th for the club after playing 12 for the Wellington club in the 2008-09 season. In a swap the other way, Dylan Macallister, who played 35 times for the Mariners, who play his second game for the Phoenix.

Herbert has not dwelled on that, saying he has kept his new signing "out of that space" in the lead-up to the match.

See the Wellington Phoenix v Central Coast Mariners
* Westpac Stadium
* Tomorrow 3pm (live SS2)
* Referee: Peter O'Leary