Roar Guru
Wellington Phoenix and Melbourne Heart will kick-off the Sunday fixtures when they meet at Westpac Stadium. You can follow all the action here from 3:00pm (AEDT).
You would not have predicted this two months ago, but this is a clash between two form teams. Wellington are now right in the mix for a finals berth; Melbourne Heart have been unbeaten for the past month after collecting ten points from a potential twelve.
A ‘back to the future’ approach through the return of John v’ant Schip and, albeit to a lesser extent, Ernie Merrick has done both clubs wonders.
Wellington will welcome back to the squad both Kenny Cunningham and Michael Boxall from suspension, while no players have been omitted yet. However, the news that form midfielder Albert Riera will potentially miss the rest of the season through an adductor/lower abdomen is a big blow.
The Heart will have Orlando Engelaar back after suspension today, while v’ant Schip has recalled the underachieving Michael Mifsud. Two will be omitted from the travelling squad on match-day.
Van’t Schip has the Heart humming after a torrid early season, giving the squad a new-found confidence and fresh air.
Merrick has bucked the A-League trend and has the ‘Nix playing a more narrow style of football, going right up the middle to open up oppositions. Not surprisingly, Carlos Hernandez has played a crucial role in the side’s mid-season surge.
While last week’s trip to Albury could be counted as an “away win”, the Heart need to crack their poor away record and this presents the perfect opportunity to test their new found resolve.
On the other hand, a Phoenix win could give them an opportunity to leap to third place.
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