Manny Muscat and Leo Bertos will both play their 100th Hyundai A-League games for the Wellington Phoenix at Etihad Stadium on Monday night, but to Muscat that milestone comes second to winning the game.
“To play 100 games for one club is very special and hopefully I can continue playing for the Phoenix for a long time,” Muscat said.
“That the game is being played in my native Melbourne makes it even more special, and I hope we can win and celebrate my 100 games with the family because the most important thing is getting three points.
“We-ve not done well in Melbourne in the past and I hope to turn that around on Monday.”
Phoenix coach Ricki Herbert, still seeking his first win in Melbourne, will second those sentiments and is looking forward to the game.
“Our record there (Melbourne) isn-t great, but the way we have been playing this season there is no reason why we can-t change that,” Herbert said,
“We have approached every game positively and this one will be no different.
“That approach put us in a good position in Adelaide before we gave up a goal through poor defending, and then a few other things went against us.
“We will go with the same squad, apart from Ben Sigmund who is suspended, which is a good thing.
A likely Phoenix line up is: Mark Paston, Leo Bertos, Andrew Durante (captain), Michael Boxall, Tony Lochhead, Louis Fenton, Manny Muscat, Alex Smith, Paul Ifill, Jeremy Brockie, Stein Huysegems. Subsitutes: Glen Moss, Vince Lia, Benjamin Totori, Tyler Boyd.
The game kicks off at 9.30 (NZ time) on Monday.
