Details confirmed for Australia Cup tie

The Wellington Phoenix will have their first competitive outing just a month into pre-season training.

The Phoenix will play South Melbourne at Lakeside Stadium in Melbourne on Tuesday, August 6 in the last 32 of the Australia Cup. Kick-off is at 9:30pm NZT (7:30pm AEST).

The Nix will start pre-season training on Monday, July 8 with a threadbare squad as a result of international commitments.

Numbers will be boosted a fortnight later once a few All Whites have been given a brief break following the OFC Nations Cup and after the OFC U-19 Men’s Championship finishes in Samoa.

But head coach Giancarlo Italiano will be unable to call on players who are selected in the New Zealand under-23 men’s squad for the Paris Olympics.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – JANUARY 05: Wellington Phoenix players celebrate their win during the FFA Cup Quarter Final match between Melbourne City and Wellington Phoenix at Kingston Heath Soccer Complex on January 05, 2022 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)

The Phoenix are competing in the Australia Cup for the 10^th time.

Wellington have advanced beyond the round of 32 in each of the past three years and won through to the semi-finals of the 2022 Cup.

South Melbourne are the National Premier Leagues (NPL) Victoria leaders and it’s their fourth participation in the final rounds of the Cup.

The four-time National Soccer League (NSL) champions made it all the way to the semi-finals of the 2017 tournament before losing to eventual winners Sydney FC.