Following the departure of head coach Darije Kalezic and his backroom staff, Academy & ISPS Handa Premiership head coach Chris Greenacre has been handed the reins as Phoenix head to Spotless Stadium in Sydney on Saturday night to take on Western Sydney Wanderers.
The former Nix legend and first team co-coach has made a few changes, one enforced with Monty Patterson battling a stomach bug and missing a few sessions, and one tactical with leading goalscorer Andrija Kaludjerovic given a week off to freshen up, with the raw pace of Roy Krishna and Nathan Burns preferred in attack.
For the hosts, its a clean bill of health for Josep Gombau who have enjoyed a recent upturn in fortunes with only one loss in their last five, with Socceroo Chris Ikonomidis in especially blistering form.
Former Phoenix midfielder Roly Bonevacia returns from suspension while Brendan/ons Hamill and Santalab return for selection.
Wellington Phoenix squad: 1.Lewis ITALIANO (gk), 3.Scott GALLOWAY, 4.Goran PARACKI, 6.Dylan FOX, 7.Nathan BURNS, 8.Matija LJUJIC, 10.Michael MCGLINCHEY, 12. Adam PARKHOUSE, 13.Marco ROSSI, 14.Alex RUFER, 18. Sarpreet SINGH, 19. Tom DOYLE, 21. Roy KRISHNA, 22.Andrew DURANTE(c), 23.Matthew RIDENTON, 24.Logan ROGERSON, 26. Liberato CACACE, 40.Tando VELAPHI (gk)
**two to be omitted**
Ins: 1. Lewis ITALIANO (promoted), 12. Adam PARKHOUSE (promoted), 14. Alex RUFER (promoted), 24. Logan ROGERSON (promoted), 26. Liberato CACACE (promoted)
Outs: 9. Andrija KALUDJEROVIC (omitted), 17. Monty PATTERSON (omitted), 30. Keegan SMITH (omitted)
Unavailable: 2. Daniel MULLEN (knee – end of season), 5. Ryan LOWRY (quad – end of season)
Western Sydney Wanderers FC squad: 3.Jack CLISBY, 4.Josh RISDON, 5.Brendan HAMILL, 6.Marcelo CARRUSCA, 7.Steven LUSTICA, 8.Roly BONEVACIA, 9.Oriol RIERA, 10.Alvaro CEJUDO, 11.Brendon SANTALAB, 15.Kearyn BACCUS, 16.Jaushua SOTIRIO, 18.Chris IKONOMIDIS, 19.Mark BRIDGE, 20.Vedran JANJETOVIC (GK), 24.Raul LLORENTE, 33.Michael THWAITE, 40.Nicholas SUMAN (GK), 42.Keanu Baccus
**two to be omitted**
Ins: 5.Brendan HAMILL (returns from injury), 8.Roly BONEVACIA (returns from suspension), 11.Brendon SANTALAB (returns from injury)
Outs: 35.Tass MOURDOUKOUTAS (not selected)
Unavailable: Nil
Match Details:
Hyundai A-League Round 22, Western Sydney Wanderers v Wellington Phoenix
Saturday 10 March, Spotless Stadium, 7.50pm (9.50pm NZT)
TV coverage: Sky Sport 4 from 9.45pm.
