The Wellington Phoenix have their sights set on their first win of the season.
The Nix have made the long trip to Perth to take on the Glory this Sunday in a game that will kick off just before midnight New Zealand time.
Head coach Bev Priestman has been impressed by the Glory’s early showings.
“They’re undefeated,” she told media via Zoom from Perth. “You always get an aggressiveness from them.
“I see some really good opportunities and we’ve been working on those but I don’t take them for granted.
“They seem to come alive at the death and you’ve got to be switched on to some of their players.”
She wants to see more ruthlessness from her forwards, which would be a statement of intent against a team that has not conceded yet this season.
“I do think although they haven’t conceded, there has been opportunity to concede, and that’s for us to unpick and get after.
“This week it’s about us. We’re working on the fine margins. Can our set pieces be better? All of the little things that can win you football matches.
“The goal that we’ve scored in the last game, that’s as simple as it needs to be for us.
“We’ve been putting the cogs in place for us, and that’s the bit I’m excited about this week.”
Reinforcements have arrived after the first two games saw the Nix down a number of players.
New signings Milly Clegg and Kam Pickett are both potentially available to play against Perth.
“Both of them bring a totally different dynamic to the team.
“I got to see a little bit more of Milly on the pre-season and she’s a true number nine, works really well in the way that we play.
“Kam, on that left hand side, brings me a little bit of the Brooke Nunn type. The dribbler, the ability to get closer to goal to pass more balls into the box.
“I think both give us the ability across 90 minutes to really get after teams. I’ve just got to make a decision in the next day as to how I deploy the team.”
The matchweek 3 Ninja A-League match between the Wellington Phoenix and Perth Glory is scheduled to kick-off at HBF Park in Perth at 11.45pm (9.45pm AEDT) on Sunday and will be broadcast LIVE on Sky Sport 3 in New Zealand, and on Paramount+ in Australia.
Most recent meeting: 2 February 2026, Wellington Phoenix 1 Perth Glory 0
All-time A-League head to head: Wellington 3W, Perth 7W and 0D
Perth Glory: (two to be omitted): 1. Teresa MORRISSEY (GK), 2. Mischa ANDERSON, 3. Ella BUCHANAN, 5. Baxter THEW, 6. Emma TOVAR, 7. Megan WYNNE, 8. Georgia CASSIDY, 9. Maggie JENKINS, 10. Susan PHONSONGKHAM, 11. Ella ABDUL MASSIH, 12. Bronte TREW, 17. Rola BADAWIYA, 18. Theodora MOUITHYS, 19. Clancy WESTAWAY, 21. Alyssa DALL’OSTE (GK), 23. Isobel DALTON (C), 24. Julia SARDO, 25. Ella LINCOLN, 26. Chloe MURRAY, 29. Onyinyechi ZOGG.
Unavailable: 14. Charli WAINWRIGHT (injured), 16. Olivia WOOD (injured), 20. Sakura LEONG (international duty), 22. Hayley MUIR (international duty).
Wellington Phoenix (two to be omitted): 1. Victoria ESSON (gk), 3. Lara WALL, 4. Mackenzie BARRY, 5. Ellie WALKER, 6. Abby ERCEG, 7. Grace JALE, 8. Milly CLEGG, 11. Manaia ELLIOTT, 13. Tameka YALLOP, 16. Marisa VAN DER MEER, 17. Indiah-Paige RILEY, 20. Emma TAYLOR-MAIN, 21. Sienna CANDY, 22. Aimee DANIELI (gk), 23. Brooke NUNN, 24. Pia VLOK, 25. Alyssha EGLINTON, 26. Lily BRAZENDALE, 30. Kam PICKETT, 31. Makala WOODS.
Unavailable: 2. CJ BOTT (c) (maternity), 9. Sabitra BHANDARI (injured), 19. Mikaela BANGALAN (injured), 27. Zoe BENSON (injured).
