Another huge clash awaits the in-form Wellington Phoenix in round seven of the Ninja A-League.
The Nix will host defending champions Sydney FC at Porirua Park in their bid to make it a fourth straight game unbeaten.
Wellington Phoenix women’s head coach Paul Temple has lauded his squad’s fitness levels ahead of the weekend.
“I think it was evident against the Victory on Friday night, our fitness really shone out,” he told media on Friday.
“The girls have been working so hard this season. We want to be the fittest team in the league.
“You saw with that five day turnaround, our energy in the last fifteen minutes after a lot of running was evident.
“I think the girls are in a really good spot from a fitness perspective. No matter if it’s five days, eight days, I think we’ll be ready to go.”
Fitness has been a focus for Temple this season, and the results are already apparent.
“It’s something we think we could have improved on in the offseason.
“Kieran McMinn’s (strength and conditioning coach) done a great job in the preseason, which is short, to get the fitness we have.
“We’ve been pushing them real hard in trainings, the intensity and the level of training has gone up.
“It’s something that we can control. There are many things in football that you can’t control, but we can control how fit we are and the effort we’re putting in.
“We want to be a team that can press a little bit more too, and for that you need the energy.”
And a run of good form has created “a bit of a headache” in his team selection.
“That’s what you want. It’s tough trying to pick the 16, picking the starting 11.
“There’s lots of discussions around what’s needed. The main thing is, we’ve got some flexibility.
“We’ve played two different systems, we’ve also got players who have played in multiple positions.
“We know what we need for this specific game, and who can fill those roles.
“We did that last week, obviously made some changes and played a different way against Victory. It’ll be the same again tomorrow.”
Sydney FC sit eleventh at the start of round seven after a disappointing start to the season for the back to back champions.
“If there’s a good time to play them, maybe it’s now. But I’m of the opinion that they are still Sydney FC, they deserve the respect.
“They won the league last year, they’ve got big players, and they know how to win.
“Their current form isn’t going to go on forever, it will change at some point. But, from our point of view, we’ve got to try and take what we can get.
“We’re in good form, playing well and doing good things. It’s an opportunity for us to take it to Sydney and see if we get a result.”
Although the weekend is too soon for her debut, the squad has also been boosted by the addition of midfielder Amelia Abbott from the University of Texas.
“She’s been in the pipeline for a while. We knew obviously that she was coming, she’s a good player, somebody that we’ve been tracking for a few seasons.
“I talked to her last year, when she wanted to finish off her studies in the States. Now she’s done that, and she’s here.
“It really helps that she knows a lot of the girls. She’s grown up in Nelson, so she knows Daisy Brazendale and Ella McCann.
“She’s played for the Pride, so she knows those Christchurch girls, and then there’s the New Zealand Football age group teams.
“She’s a really nice girl, so she’s blended in seamlessly already, I think it’s only been 24 hours.
“From our point of view, we’re really excited to have her. She gives us another option defensively, in midfield as well.
“She can play a number of different positions for us. The way we’re doing things tactically, that’s going to fit in really well.”
The seventh round Ninja A-League match between the Wellington Phoenix and Sydney FC is scheduled to kick-off at Porirua Park in Wellington at 4pm Saturday and will be broadcast LIVE on Sky Sport 2 in New Zealand and on Paramount+ and 10 Play in Australia.
Most recent meeting: 17 March 2024 – Wellington Phoenix 2 Sydney FC 4
All-time A-League head to head: Phoenix 1W, Sydney 5W, 0D
Wellington Phoenix squad (two to be omitted): 2. Zoe MCMEEKEN, 3. Tiana JABER, 4. Mackenzie BARRY, 5. Alivia KELLY, 6. Maya MCCUTCHEON, 7. Grace JALE, 9. Olivia FERGUSSON, 10. Alyssa WHINHAM, 11. Manaia ELLIOTT, 12. Ella MCMILLAN, 13. Brooke NEARY (gk),14. Mebae TANAKA, 15. Daisy BRAZENDALE, 16. Annalie LONGO (c), 19. Liv INGHAM, 20. Emma MAIN, 21. Lara WALL, 39. Carolina VILÃO (gk).
Unavailable: 18. Ella MCCANN (injured), 22. Aimee DANIELI (gk) (injured), 23. Rebecca LAKE (injured).
Sydney FC squad (two to be omitted): 1. Brianna EDWARDS (gk), 2. Margaux CHAUVET, 3. Faye BRYSON, 4. Tori TUMETH, 7. Millie FARROW, 9. Shea CONNORS, 12. Natalie TOBIN (c), 14. Abbey LEMON, 15. Mackenzie HAWKESBY, 16. Jordan THOMPSON, 18. Amber LUCHTMEIJER, 20. Princess IBINI, 21. Lucy JOHNSON, 22. Indiana DOS SANTOS, 23. Rubi SULLIVAN, 24. Caley TALLON-HENNIKER, 26. Maddie CASPERS, 30. Tahlia FRANCO (gk).
Unavailable: 5. Kirsty FENTON (injured), 8. Hana LOWRY (injured), 19. Kyah SIMON (injured).
