The Wellington Phoenix are making an “emotional” return to Christchurch as they bid to keep their Isuzu UTE A-League finals hopes alive.
The Phoenix are playing host to Western Sydney Wanderers on Saturday evening in what is the final sporting event at Apollo Projects Stadium before Canterbury’s leading teams move into the state-of-the-art Te Kaha.
The Nix have a proud record in Christchurch, losing only once.
They won their first two visits to the Garden City when Wellington played Adelaide United at the old Lancaster Park in 2010, when head coach Chris Greenacre was a Phoenix player.
“It’s quite emotional actually,” Greenacre told media on Friday when asked about being back in Christchurch. “I had some really good times down here when I was playing myself.
“There was something on social media today where Ben Sigmund scored the header against Adelaide.
“I think at that game there was 19 thousand there and I can remember it like it was yesterday.
“We played exceptionally well that night and hopefully that’s something that can inspire our players this weekend and hopefully we can emulate that and get the result we deserve.”
The Phoenix have received good support from the Canterbury sporting public over the past 16 years and Greenacre is expecting the same on Saturday evening.
“I’ve looked forward to this chance to come down here in what is a beautiful city [with] fantastic people.
“They love their sport down here [and] they get behind all the local teams.
“We’re thankful that we’ve got a good fanbase down here so I’m expecting there to be lots and lots of fans and we look forward to entertaining them.
“It’s really important that we try and spread the game around New Zealand and it’s important that the local fans and the young kids get to see future stars in the making.”
The Nix have two draws and a defeat from their three matches at Apollo Projects Stadium and are looking to sign off in style.
“Look at it, it’s a magnificent surface and really suits the way we want to play.
“Everyone’s told us how cool it is to play here and hopefully we can give the local fans and community something to cheer about.”
The Phoenix enter their penultimate fixture of the regular season in eighth place, five points outside the top six. It means they need to win their two remaining matches and hope results go their way to play in the finals.
“This is huge for us. Western Sydney, even though they’re bottom of the table, they’re a very, very good team.
“Any of those players could walk into any A-League team, if I’m really honest. For whatever reason it hasn’t materialised for them this season, but we fully expect a really, really tough game.
“It’s going to take a monumental effort from everybody. We know that the fans are going to be behind us. The support that we get here is exceptional so hopefully they can be our 12th man.
“It’s going to be a difficult game but we need to really focus on what we’re about and hopefully we can play the game that we want to play and hopefully we get the success I think we deserve.
“It’s important for us to get back to winning ways while we’re still mathematically in the hunt.”
Chris Greenacre has a near full-strength squad to pick from with only All Whites attacking midfielder Sarpreet Singh unavailable for selection.
“Sarpreet is the only one that hasn’t travelled this weekend. He’s taken a little step back, but nothing major.
“So, we’re here [near] full-strength. We’ve travelled with 20 players, so I’ve got a full deck of cards to pick from.
“The boys have been training very, very well and everyone’s throwing their hand up now so hopefully we can put on a performance for the fans in Christchurch.”
The round 25 Isuzu UTE A-League match between the Wellington Phoenix and Western Sydney Wanderers is scheduled to kick-off at Apollo Projects Stadium in Christchurch at 5pm Saturday and will be broadcast LIVE and free-to-air on Sky Open and LIVE on Sky Sport 5 in New Zealand, and on Paramount+ in Australia.
Most recent meeting: 13 February 2026 – Western Sydney Wanderers 2 Wellington Phoenix 2
All-time A-League head-to-head: Phoenix 13W, Wanderers 15W & 9D.
Wellington Phoenix squad (two to be omitted): 1. Josh OLUWAYEMI (gk), 3. Corban PIPER, 4. Manjrekar JAMES, 6. Tim PAYNE, 7. Ifeanyi EZE, 8. Paulo RETRE, 10. Nikola MILEUSNIC, 11. Carlo ARMIENTO, 12. Dan EDWARDS, 14. Alex RUFER (c), 15. Isaac HUGHES, 16. Sander KARTUM, 18. Lukas KELLY-HEALD, 20. Ramy NAJJARINE, 23. Luke SUPYK, 25. Kazuki NAGASAWA, 27. Matt SHERIDAN, 28. Bill TUILOMA, 29. Luke BROOKE-SMITH, 30. Alby KELLY-HEALD (gk).
Unavailable: 9. Sarpreet SINGH (injured).
Western Sydney Wanderers squad (one to be omitted): 3. Alex GERSBACH, 5. Dylan SCICLUNA, 7. Ryan FRASER, 9. Kosta BARBAROUSES, 11. Hiroshi IBUSUKI, 14. Phillip CANCAR, 17. Jarrod CARLUCCIO, 19. Ruon TONGYIK, 20. Lawrence THOMAS (gk) (c), 21. Aydan HAMMOND, 22. Anthony PANTAZOPOULOS, 23. Bozhidar KRAEV, 25. Josh BRILLANTE, 26. Brandon BORRELLO, 30. Jordan HOLMES (gk), 32. Angus THURGATE, 38. Jai ROSE, 39. Awan LUAL, 45. Alou KUOL.
Unavailable: 18. Jacob FARRELL (Injured).
Main image: Carlo Armiento shoots at goal during the Wellington Phoenix’s open training session at Apollo Projects Stadium in Christchurch. Photo: Priyanka Rao/Wellington Phoenix.
