Wellington Phoenix head coach Bev Priestman is ready for her team to take their game to the next level.
The Nix take on reigning champions Central Coast Mariners at home this Sunday, with a win returning them to the top of the table.
Wellington have lost all four games they’ve played against the Mariners, and so a win would tick off another “first” for the team.
“Central Coast, although where they sit in the table at the moment doesn’t reflect that, I think they’re a very good side,” Priestman told media pre-match. “There’s a reason that they won last year.
“We’re going to have to be at it, and make sure that performance-wise, we put in a better performance than we did last week.”
“There’s a lot at stake for us, we’ve got to keep pushing forwards, there’s 21 points up for grabs and we’ll keep moving towards getting as many as we can.”
The visitors arrive well-rested after a bye, but have lost star striker forward Annalise Rasmussen, who has completed a move to Juventus.
“They’ve lost Rasmussen, that’s a big loss for them, but normally off the back of that it binds a group together.
“There’s a couple of options of who they could put up there, but I think irrespective I’ve seen they’re a well coached team.
“You prepare for certain teams in certain ways, and what they do is very clear. They’re a well-oiled machine.
“For us now, the key is going to be how we impose what we do. There’s some areas we can go and set that benchmark higher.
The Phoenix have enjoyed a longer week of training themselves, with a nine day gap separating this weekend’s match and Waitangi Day’s victory over Perth.
“Even looking at the players today on a minus two, they’re looking more fresh than they have going into last week.
“Obviously there’s a great energy off the back of last week, but I also felt that training today was very good.
“We’re in a good place, but again I’m going to keep driving standards because we haven’t hit our best.”
And being back at home, even with some inclement weather on the forecast, is a boon.
“As a coach I absolutely love that ground. Any team coming to Porirua Park, they know they’ve got a battle on their hands.
“I think the Wellington weather is going to play its part too, hopefully that plays into our favour. We’re used to training in that.”
The round 17 Ninja A-League match between the Wellington Phoenix and Central Coast Mariners is scheduled to kick-off at Porirua Park in Wellington at 4pm on Sunday and will be broadcast LIVE on Sky Sport 2 in New Zealand, and on Paramount+ in Australia.
Most recent meeting: 22 March 2025 – Wellington Phoenix 0 Central Coast Mariners 2
All-time A-League head to head: Phoenix 0W, Mariners 4W, 0D.
Wellington Phoenix squad (two to be omitted): 1. Victoria ESSON (gk), 3. Tiana JABER, 4. Mackenzie BARRY, 5. Ellie WALKER, 7. Grace JALE, 11. Manaia ELLIOTT, 14. Lucía LEÓN, 15. Daisy BRAZENDALE, 16. Marisa VAN DER MEER, 17. Ela JEREZ, 20. Emma MAIN, 21. Lara WALL, 22. Aimee DANIELI (gk), 23. Brooke NUNN, 24. Pia VLOK, 27. Zoe BENSON, 30. Mackenzie ANTHONY, 31. Makala WOODS, 32. Emma PIJNENBURG.
Unavailable: 2. CJ BOTT (c) (pregnant), 6. Tessel MIDDAG (injured), 9. Sabitra BHANDARI (injured), 10. Alyssa WHINHAM (injured), 18. Ella MCCANN (injured).
Central Coast Mariners squad: (two to be omitted) 3. Elizabeth BARWICK-GREY. 4. Baxter THEW, 5. Annabel MARTIN, 7. Avaani PRAKASH, 6. Isabel GOMEZ 9. Millie FARROW, 10. Tamar LEVIN, 12. Tiana FULLER, 13. Kaiya BUCHANAN, 14. Greta KRASZULA, 15. Annalee GROVE (gk), 16. Tess QUILLIGAN, 17. Jynaya DOS SANTOS 18. Taren KING, 21. Eliza FAMILTON 22. Peta TRIMIS, 23. Lorena BAUMANN, 25. Blake HUGHES, 30. Sophia VARLEY (gk).
Unavailable: 1. Sarah LANGMAN (Injured), 11. Annalise RASMUSSEN (transferred), 26. Isabella Coco DI SIPIO (injured), 77. Cannon CLOUGH (injured).
Cover photo credit: Photomac/Cam McIntosh
