Auckland FC's head coach Steve Corica greets fans at Mt Smart Stadium Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Auckland FC v Western United
Kickoff: 8pm Saturday 15 February
Ironbank Fields , Melbourne
Live blog updates on RNZ Sport
No other A-League coach has won more awards than Auckland FC's Steve Corica this season.
Corica has been voted Coach of the Month for three months in a row - every time the award has been contested.
For January, Corica was nominated for the award with Melbourne City's Aurelio Vidmar, Adelaide United's Carl Veart and Macarthur's Mile Sterjovski.
The award was won by public vote, after Football Coaches Australia decided on the nominees for the specific time period.
"It's nice to get recognised," Corica said. "The players do all the work on the field and they obviously can help you, or when you lose, [it's the] coach's fault, so it goes both ways.
"They've been doing an amazing job and I have really great back-up crew as well. Our staff here is amazing and they've done a fantastic job."
Auckland FC are coming off a bye week and remain on the top of ladder with 10 wins from 15 games.
Corica said he did not like to lose and an opportunity to get one back on Western United on Saturday was something he looked forward to.
The last time the two sides met in December in Auckland, the visitors won 4-0 - Auckland's worst result of the season and their first loss as an organisation.
Corica said the result "hurt".
"We responded well after that game," he said,"We have to play them another two times at their home ground and it's going to be tough, because they are a good team, but we want a response from our boys, and real hunger and desire to win the next match."
Corica and Western United's coach John Aloisi have gone head-to-head seven times in their A-League coaching careers. Neither has the upper hand, as they both have two wins, two losses and three draws.
Francis de Vries, who is in his first A-League season, believed Corica was getting the "principles" right with the Auckland side, as they had already broken several records this season and had been in touch with top spot all season.
"Setting the standard, having a clear idea of how we play and what each individual needs to do within that, so everyone is very clear on their roles," he explained. "Everyone has also bought into the vision of Auckland FC and, to be honest, it's not that hard when you see the support we're getting.
"It filters down and when you see those actions of each player, it's due to the training and the coaching that we've had."
Like Corica, de Vries wanted to get a win against the team that have just moved into third place in the standings.
"You don't forget [the loss] as a footballer, as any sportsperson," he said. "It's emotional, it still hurts, especially at home, when you want to give everyone a good show.
"To get smashed like that, it definitely feels like we have no added incentive needed to come into the game."
