The Wellington Phoenix have the opportunity for payback for their early elimination in last season's A-League playoffs, when they play Melbourne City for a place in the final eight of the FFA Cup in Melbourne tonight.
City eliminated the Phoenix in the first round of last season's A-League finals but whether the Wellington side is capable of overturning that result appears doubtful given their early pre-season form.
The Phoenix are also without striker Nathan Burns, the club's leading goal-scorer, who is now in Japan, and they're coming off a loss to New Zealand 'A' at the weekend.
New signing Jeremy Sarpong won't be playing but coach Ernie Merrick has demanded a much-improved effort from their last outing, a scratchy 1-0 win over Central Coast Mariners.
"We can't take the easy way out and go 'route one' the whole game which is what we did against Mariners. It's not good enough," he said.
Ernie Merrick Photo: Photosport
"So hopefully there will be an improved performance on buildup, passing, possession and getting numbers in the box."
Despite losing to NZ 'A' at the weekend Merrick maintained he was happier with that effort as they created plenty of chances.
Merrick said Melbourne City were a stronger side than they in last season's finals through their off-season recruitment.
He knew his side let themselves down in the 2-0 loss to City in the elimination final last season.
"I hope our committment to playing a good brand of attacking football is a lot better than it was in that finals match and I won't let the boys forget that."
The match kicks off at 9.30pm.
Meanwhile All Whites captain Winston Reid is to sponsor two scholarships with the Wellington Phoenix Football Academy.
The scholarships are for a full football and residential scholarship at Scots College in Wellington.
The first two inaugural winners are New Zealand Under-17 representatives Sapreet Singh and Max Mata, both of whom have featured as part of the Phoenix' pre-season programme.
Both Singh and Mata come out of the Phoenix Auckland Soccer School.
