Ernie Merrick's side have scored the second-most goals in the A-League this season but, interestingly, 74 per cent of them have come in the second half - the highest rate in the competition.
Wellington have scored 35 goals this summer and 26 have come in the second spell; 12 of those have arrived in the final 15 minutes.
That late-scoring ability was on display when they came from behind twice to beat the Melbourne Victory 3-2 across the Tasman last Sunday. Nathan Burns, one of the fittest players at the club, grabbed the winner in the 77th minute.
"We've got very good fitness. We'd compete with anyone in the league," Merrick said. "It helps us in the last 10-15 minutes of a game."
There has been no silver bullet this season but Merrick's training sessions - in conjunction with assistant Chris Greenacre and interim goalkeeping coach Des Buckingham - have been conducted at a high tempo.
"We get fitness through playing with the ball all the time," Merrick said. "You've never seen our boys run without the ball, so it's every training session; it's ball-centred and it's very intense."
Wellington's strength and conditioning coach Lee Spence said he took pleasure from seeing the Phoenix still running at full flight late in games.
"Ernie's style of coaching really lends itself well to having a fit team; a lot of what he does is game-based," Spence said.
Spence said they gathered data during the pre-season, where they had GPS monitors on their players, which focused on a metres-per-minute target. Heart rates were also recorded.
"You can get really, really in-depth and collect as many numbers as you want but it's how it affects your training on a day-to-day basis," Spence said.
That information has allowed them to monitor the side's training loads. Spence and physiotherapist Rob Lee are motivated by having a zero in the injury column.
"Our big stats are making sure everybody's available every game," Spence said.
Phoenix skipper Andrew Durante may blot that record this weekend given he was in doubt for today's (sat) game against Adelaide United in Lower Hutt due to a calf problem.
Durante was sent for scans yesterday and was set to undergo a late fitness test this morning to determine his availability for what shapes as a crucial game for the Phoenix as they push towards the playoffs.
Merrick also has to juggle his backline due to the suspension of Manny Muscat who picked up his fifth yellow card of the season during last week's win over the Victory.
Michael Boxall, who has filled in admirably for right back Louis Fenton (concussion), should retain his spot, while the fit-again Fenton could muscle his way in to the starting side, pushing Boxall to the left side of defence.
If Durante was to be ruled out, Ben Sigmund would captain the Phoenix with Boxall, Tom Doyle and Roly Bonevacia the likely options to replace him.
- By Daniel Richardson of NZME
