The stage is set for them: They're at home, they have an opponent they know they can beat and victory in this weekend's elimination final against Melbourne City would earn them a semifinal spot.
Newtown Park isn't a fun place to go in the winter -- the wind and rain seems particularly fierce in July and August -- and making the playoffs probably seemed a world away before the Phoenix began their season last October.
Their 2014-2015 A-League campaign started in disappointing fashion with a 2-1 home loss to Perth Glory; although given what has emerged around the Glory's attitude towards the salary cap, that defeat doesn't seem as bad.
Expectations were measured in the capital but the Phoenix had a healthy dose of recruits, namely Michael McGlinchey, Nathan Burns, Roly Bonevacia and Alex Rodriguez that gave cause for hope.
Coach Ernie Merrick is also a useful man to have in charge. Many people from across the Tasman had written him off as a has-been before he joined the Phoenix two years ago but his methods have continued to work and at 62, the Scotsman is still evolving as a coach.
The 27-week regular season brought immense highs for the Phoenix -- they held a four-point lead at the top of the standings after round 22 -- while there were some defeats they'd prefer to forget.
A maiden Premiers Plate looked realistic but the wheels began to fall off when the Phoenix copped a 3-0 home defeat to Sydney FC during an international window in late March.
The Phoenix have limped in to the playoffs in some respects -- they finished the season in fourth -- but the same could be said of Melbourne City given their past four games have yielded two draws and two losses. City also conceded seven goals in their past two matches.
Merrick has tinkered with his preferred playing XI lately and this isn't the ideal time of year to be doing that. Fullbacks and midfield options have varied in recent weeks, while goalkeeper Glen Moss also missed last weekend's 2-1 home loss to Sydney FC.
Moss should be fit for Sunday and Merrick remained confident that his team would get it together in the playoffs.
"We are ready to go," Merrick said. "We've got a good mix of new players, experienced players, young up-and-coming players. We are looking good."
City provide a unique match-up for the Phoenix. They're able to defend in numbers and pack the box, which hurts Wellington given their target of getting their strikers in behind the defensive line to turn the ball back for oncoming attackers.
The past two meetings between City and the Phoenix have provided 0-all draws, a result that could be Merrick's worst nightmare given his team's woes from the penalty spot this season.
- Daniel Richardson of NZME. News Service
