KEY POINTS:
Wellington Phoenix's new signing Ahmad Elrich will not be rushed into the team to replace suspended Daniel when they take on the Queensland Roar on Friday night.
Phoenix coach Ricki Herbert said it would be hard to fill the gap left by the Brazilian midfielder after he picked up his fourth yellow card in the 4-1 thumping of Perth Glory in Wellington last weekend.
Elrich, a former Fulham midfielder, was not ready as he was still not match fit and would probably not get any game time for another week.
Instead he was contemplating a slightly more cautious approach, packing out the midfield with five players with just Vaughan Coveny in an outright attacking role up front.
The other impressive Brazilian signing Felipe is liking to be given a free-ranging role with Coveny's attacking partner last week Shane Smeltz playing down the flank.
Friday's game marked the start of a tough phase in the season with five of the Phoenix's next six games on the road.
"It is hard winning at home, let alone winning away. Probably the position we have got ourselves into the league now... is going to be tough to retain," Herbert said.
"But we are playing well and we want to keep that momentum going, and we want to keep getting players forward, but five of the six are going to be tough."
Phoenix would not be throwing their exciting, attacking strategy out the door and going for the draw, but things were not going to be the same as last week's game in Wellington.
"I wouldn't say I would be happy with a point, we would like to win, but I think it is going to be a little bit different from the Perth game."
Queensland had impressed Herbert in the pre-season matches and he believed their position second from bottom in a very tight table was deceptive.
The travelling squad would not be finalised until they leave tomorrow.
Roar went down 2-0 to reigning champions Melbourne Victory last week leaving them with one win, two draws and three losses.
Wellington are in fourth place with two wins, two draws and two losses, but they sit on eight points with three other teams.
- NZPA
