Soccer: Phoenix look to repeat home form

Andrew Durante says Phoenix need to play the way they do at home. Photo / Mark Mitchell

There's no rest or rotation at the Wellington Phoenix as Ricki Herbert pitches his same starting XI into their first away game of the A-League season, against Brisbane Roar tonight.

"There is no need to change," said Herbert before leaving for the Sunshine State yesterday. "The players have done all I have asked of them so far, so I haven't been tempted to make changes."

It is the biggest test of the season so far for the Phoenix after two home games. Their record in Australia last season was nothing flash - three wins in 14 regular-season matches.

Among their six losses was a 4-1 thumping by the Roar at Suncorp Stadium - something not lost on captain Andrew Durante.

"We have just got to concentrate and play the way we play at home. We give ourselves enough time to get here and prepare right so there is no magic secret to getting results away.

"We have just got to be focused for the full 90 minutes."

The Phoenix and the Roar go into the match with almost identical records. Both have already had the bye and both have won one and drawn one of their two matches.

The Roar started their season with a 0-0 draw at Gold Coast and followed that last weekend with a 1-0 home win over Sydney FC.

Two clean sheets and four points off teams ranked in the top three at the outset of the season.

The Phoenix had the first week off and followed that with a 3-3 home draw with Gold Coast and a 2-0 win, also at Westpac Stadium, over then leaders Central Coast Mariners.

"They were two excellent goals against the Mariners," said Herbert. "But this will be a step up. Suncorp can be a difficult place to play. I haven't seen Brisbane play this season but we did beat them in a pre-season game in Hamilton, so I have some idea of what to expect."

Mark Paston passed a fitness test on the groin injury he picked up in keeping his clean sheet against the Mariners and will start with new signing Danny Vukovic on the bench.

In one change - by adding another player to the travelling party - young striker Mirjan Pavlovic has been included with Herbert keen to give him some game time if the situation presents itself.

Of the failure of his midfield to really stand out on Sunday, Herbert said it was difficult for Leo Bertos, Vince Lia and Tim Brown to get much of the ball given the Mariners' preference to play the ball in the air, too often bypassing the midfield.

A-LEAGUE

Week four:
* Brisbane Roar v Wellington Phoenix
* Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
* Tonight, 10 (live SS3)