The Wellington Phoenix have lined up three pre-season matches as they ramp up their preparation for the 2024-25 Ninja A-League season.
They will travel to Australia to take on A-League opposition twice in the next two weeks, before rounding out their fixtures against the Phoenix academy side. All fixtures will be behind closed doors.
Head coach Paul Temple is facing the challenge of a pre-season truncated by a FIFA international window, which will see multiple players away on international duty.
This underlines the importance of friendly matches, as the round one A-League clash away to Western United looms on Friday, November 1.
“You can do all the prep you like, play internal games, but nothing beats preparing against the opposition you’re going to play during the season to see where you’re at,” Temple said.
“You really need, in that five weeks, at least two games against A-League opposition to prepare you for round one.
“We have the challenge that we have to go to Australia to get those games, so I’m really thankful that the club are backing us to go and play two games in Australia.
“We can test ourselves at that level to see where we’re at as a group, where we are fitness-wise leading into round one against Western United.”
First, the Phoenix will face Western Sydney Wanderers, who finished seventh last season, on Sunday, October 13.
They will return to Sydney, this time to play 2023-24 semi-finalists Central Coast Mariners, on Sunday, October 20.
Finally, there will be a friendly against the club’s academy side which will take place during the FIFA international window.
This will take place in Wellington on Friday, October 26.
Phoenix women’s pre-season fixtures (all behind closed doors)
vs Western Sydney Wanderers in Sydney on Sunday, October 13
vs Central Coast Mariners in Sydney on Sunday, October 20
vs Wellington Phoenix academy in Wellington on Friday, October 25
