Wellington Phoenix coach Ricki Herbert has his sights set on converting winger Leo Bertos in to a right back for this season's A-League campaign.
Bertos, who is closing in on his 100th appearance for the club, will be deployed at right fullback during the Phoenix's pre-season tour of Australia and India that begins on Saturday with a clash against fellow A-League club Newcastle in Weston, New South Wales.
Manny Muscat played at right back most of last season but the Maltese international has voiced his desire to move in to the midfield. It appears his wish has been granted and he will likely take up a holding role in the middle of the park this summer.
Vince Lia has also been used at right back in the past but he won't travel to the sub-continent as he continues to struggle with injury, which has opened the door for Bertos and Herbert is keen to have the senior All White strengthen the backline.
"It's something I'm seriously considering," Herbert said. "I think he'd be great at right back ... Athletically he's good enough. I think, internationally, he's proven that.
"He's been in the defensive role - if not as [part of] a full back four, but in a wider midfield role with defensive responsibilities - but it might take a little bit of time and he'll have a few ups and downs along the way. He's got good pace, his distribution's really good, so he's got a lot of strong qualities to play there."
The Phoenix will fly from Sydney to New Delhi on Sunday and kick off a four-team tournament in India against United Sikkim in Guwahati on August 24.
They will play a yet to be confirmed I-League team on August 26 in Impahl before meeting Shillong Lajong at Shillong's Nehru Stadium on August 30.
The tournament final or third-fourth playoff will complete the visit on September 1, again in Shillong.
All eight members of the Phoenix's 'school of excellence' will tour with the squad and considering there are still two under-21 spots available on the club's roster it's a great chance for them to impress.
"It's really good that we are taking them," Herbert said. "They're a strong, integral part of the club now. Their training's been great, they have really integrated in to the group, have the respect of the senior players and if I was one of them I think it'd be fantastic to travel away with the first team."
Glen Moss will have the chance to assert himself as the first-choice goalkeeper with Mark Paston available only for Saturday's game against the Jets before he returns to New Zealand, with his wife expecting their third child.
As the search continues for another quality striker, Herbert said the club were in talks with a few different options.
"We've got a really good list. So we've got three or four conversations going as we speak. So hopefully off the back of this pre-season tour we should have everybody in place."
Lia, Lucas Pantelis, Jimmy Downey and Dani Sanchez are all unavailable for the trip to India through injury, while Mirjan Pavlovic remains on loan in Sydney.
The Phoenix will complete their pre-season programme against A-League newcomers Western Sydney Wanderers in Christchurch on September 23.
The A-League season gets underway proper on October 6 when the Phoenix host Sydney FC at Westpac Stadium.
Wellington Phoenix touring squad: Glenn Moss, Mark Paston, Tony Lochhead, Michael Boxall, Alex Smith, Leo Bertos, Paul Ifill, Benjamin Totori, Jeremy Brockie, Cameron Lindsay, Ben Sigmund, Andrew Durante, Scott Basalaj, Justin Gulley, Luke Rowe, Tom Doyle, Tom Biss, Alec Solomons, Tyler Boyd, Louis Fenton
