Wellington Phoenix coach Ernie Merrick is looking forward to taking his team to New Plymouth for Sunday’s game against a New Zealand A side.

“It is always good to take the team to another part of the country and I am looking forward to taking on a New Zealand team again,” Merrick said.

“The Phoenix versus New Zealand A is becoming an annual event and it is beneficial to both camps.

“It gives myself and the national coach an opportunity to look at domestically based players and they can show us both what they are capable of.”

The Phoenix travel to New Plymouth on Friday morning and will train twice before Sunday’s game.

Travelling party: Lewis Italiano, Manny Muscat, Roly Bonevacia, Kwabena Appiah, Blake Powell, Albert Riera, Vince Lia, Ben Sigmund, Roy Krishna, Andrew Durante, Matthew Ridenton, Tamupiwa Dimairo, James McGarry, Sarpeet Singh, Oliver Sail, Ben Stroud.

Tickets available now from Ticket Direct.

Jump on the Fever Bus and let someone else do the driving up and back to New Plymouth in the day on Sunday – return bus tickets are just $30. For details and to book, click here.