Knockout football is starting a month early for the Wellington Phoenix women.
The Phoenix are playing host to Central Coast Mariners at Porirua Park on Saturday afternoon in a match which is likely to prove pivotal in the race for the Ninja A-League finals.
With four rounds remaining the Nix sit eighth on the ladder, but just two points behind the Mariners who occupy the sixth and final playoff berth.
Phoenix head coach Paul Temple says it’s felt like the finals started a few weeks ago.
“The wins are worth more it feels and the defeats are kind of a bit more soul destroying,” Temple said.
“You feel it. We’re on the edge but as I said to the players today, we’d much rather be there fighting for what we can achieve and looking upwards as opposed to having nothing to play for.
“For us it’s great to still be in the hunt and we’re still confident we can do it.
“With the games that we’ve got, three of those last four games at home, I think it makes a big difference.”
Temple says the crowd at Porirua Park is likely to be the difference.
“It’s that connection we have with the fans and the community. It kind of brings the whole club together.
“I think there’s a really good base of people coming every week. We’re seeing familiar faces and it’s so awesome to see the young kids idolising their players and having that visual pathway for them.
“There are lots of important parts of people being there and growing the women’s game, but we also need the fans, their noise and the energy that brings us.
“They really helped us against Western Sydney last time out. We could hear them and there was that constant noise.
“They’re the 12th man and now we’re into four cup finals and three of them are at home, we need them to help us get through to where we need to get to.”
The Mariners have won the three previous meetings with the Phoenix, who are desperate to get one over a coaching staff they have a huge respect for.
“We haven’t played them in New Zealand. I think that’s really key.
“It’ll be their first visit to New Zealand and to Porirua Park so obviously we’ll have home advantage, which we haven’t had in the previous games.
“I think we know their staff better than anyone else and know how much they’re putting into it.
“They’re extremely organised team, difficult to play against, difficult to breakdown, but it’s our home game.
“They’ve been struggling a bit for form too, so it’ll be a real battle on Saturday and hopefully we come out on top.”
Paul Temple will be without ever-present defender Tiana Jaber, who is serving a one-match suspension. But he’s hopeful of being able to call on Football Ferns centre back Mackenzie Barry, who has missed the past two matches with a foot injury.
“It’s close. She’s potentially an outside chance of being involved.
“She’s trained the whole week which is good, so potentially some minutes.
“Still pretty touch and go with Mack. We’ll just have to wait and see.”
Forward Grace Jale played the final half an hour of last Saturday’s last-gasp defeat to Sydney FC after three outs out with a hamstring injury and is in line for more minutes at Porirua Park.
“I thought she had a great game when she came on and had a big impact so she’s pushing to start this weekend.
“She’s been good at training, [and] everyone is really happy having her back after a few weeks out.
“She’s a top quality player, we know that, so excited to get her out there and combining with the other attackers.”
The round 20 Ninja A-League match between the Wellington Phoenix and Central Coast Mariners is scheduled to kick-off at Porirua Park in Wellington at 4pm Saturday and will be broadcast free-to-air on Sky Open and LIVE on Sky Sport 5 in New Zealand and on Paramount+ and 10 Play in Australia.
Most recent meeting: 26 January 2025 – Central Coast Mariners 1 Wellington Phoenix 0
All-time A-League head to head: Phoenix 0W, Mariners 3W, 0D
Wellington Phoenix squad (two to be omitted): 2. Zoe MCMEEKEN, 4. Mackenzie BARRY, 5. Alivia KELLY, 6. Maya MCCUTCHEON, 7. Grace JALE, 8. Amelia ABBOTT, 9. Olivia FERGUSSON, 10. Alyssa WHINHAM, 11. Manaia ELLIOTT, 13. Brooke NEARY (gk), 14. Mebae TANAKA, 15. Daisy BRAZENDALE, 16. Annalie LONGO (c), 17. Ela JEREZ, 19. Liv INGHAM, 20. Emma MAIN, 21. Lara WALL, 39. Carolina VILÃO (gk).
Unavailable: 3. Tiana JABER (suspended), 18. Ella MCCANN (injured), 22. Aimee DANIELI (gk) (injured), 23. Rebecca LAKE (injured).
Central Coast Mariners squad (two to be omitted): 1. Sarah LANGMAN (gk), 2. Jessica SEAMAN, 4. Jessika NASH, 5. Annabel MARTIN (c), 6. Isabel GOMEZ, 7. Jade PENNOCK, 8. Bianca GALIC, 10. Taylor RAY, 11. Annalise RASMUSSEN, 12. Tiana FULLER, 13. Sarah ROWE, 16. Tess QUILLIGAN, 19. Leia PUXTY, 20. Chloe CARMICHAEL (gk), 21. Brooke NUNN, 22. Peta TRIMIS, 23. Lily MCMAHON, 25. Blake HUGHES.
Main image: Cam McIntosh/Photomac.
