Unchanged lineup for Roar clash

Wellington Phoenix coach Ricki Herbert is showing his faith in a winning lineup, opting to play the same squad that hammered Perth Glory last weekend in Friday night’s home clash with the high-flying Queensland Roar.

Although Queensland have had the wood on the Phoenix in their past two matches at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, Herbert believes the confidence sparked by the 3-0 win against the Glory will continue for the Phoenix at Westpac Stadium on Friday night.

With regular captain Ross Aloisi and vice-captain Tim Brown ruled out with injury, striker Vaughan Coveny will again wear the captain’s armband after turning in a fine leader’s performance against Perth.

“A few decisions have been forced on us by injuries but at the end of the day it’s about consistency. We’ve been good in a lot of games and come away without wins. Last weekend was no different performance-wise but we came away with the three points.

“We’re fortunate to have a very strong squad with good depth and a good mix of talent, and I have no reason at all to doubt how competitive we’ll be on Friday night.”

The Roar have been something of a bogey team for the Phoenix, having comprehensively won both clashes in Brisbane, but Herbert was confident it would be a different story at Westpac Stadium.

“I’m not sure Queensland will be looking forward to coming here to take on a side that’s proven if you catch us on a good day then we can make you pay. I think Friday could be like that for us.

“We have stumbled against Queensland in the past but I think that playing at home will give us the chance to perform better and I think we’ll be tough to beat.”

The Roar are enjoying a red-hot run in the Hyundai A-League 2007/08 season, having beaten the table-topping Central Coast Mariners 2-1 last weekend to consolidate second spot. However, Herbert said the Phoenix would have no fear.

“It’s probably a good time to get them – they’re flying high – and because it’s a tough one it’ll put us in good stead to come up against a team of that calibre here after the win against Perth.”

Herbert said his men wouldn’t be holding back in their pursuit of back-to-back Hyundai A-League victories.

“We’re expecting a tight game from them [Queensland] because they probably need to come here and keep their season moving forward with three points.

“But three points for us would keep our season’s hopes alive. If we get those points we’re still very much in it, so the match won’t be short on attacking stuff from us and we’ll be giving it the best shot we can.”

Friday night’s match kicks off at 7.30pm at Westpac Stadium.

Wellington Phoenix squad: 1. Mark PASTON (gk), 20.Glen MOSS (gk), 2. Jeremy CHRISTIE, 3. Tony LOCHHEAD, 5.Karl DODD, 8.Vaughan COVENY (captain), 9. Shane SMELTZ, 10.Michael FERRANTE, 11.DANIEL, 12. Richard JOHNSON, 13. Steven OLD, 16.Kristian REES, 17.Vince LIA, 18. Ahmad ELRICH, 21.FELIPE