Ben Sigmund hopes to retain starting spot

CRAIG SIMCOX/The Dominion Post

EASY DAY: Phoenix team members Tim Brown, Ben Sigmund, Andrew Durante and his friend, Evan Angelopoulos, relax at Oriental Bay yesterday.

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Wellington Phoenix defender Ben Sigmund plans to go fishing today before turning his attention to the big catch – winning a starting spot for Saturday night's A-League preliminary final against Sydney FC at the Sydney Football Stadium.

Sigmund knows his battle with Jon McKain for a starting centreback spot alongside captain Andrew Durante will be a major talking point.

McKain was suspended for Sunday's extra-time win over Newcastle but, having formed such a strong partnership with Durante in the preceding weeks, the Socceroos defender is expected to slot straight back in against Sydney.

But Sigmund has other plans.

After coming through 210 minutes of football (90 for the All Whites against Mexico and 120 for the Phoenix) in the space of 48 hours unscathed, he is eager for more.

Not before he joins his team-mates on a well-earned day off though, after a "mentally tiring" few days.

"There's not really much more we can do apart from rest up for a couple of days then have some good training sessions before we head over," Sigmund said after a light recovery session at Oriental Bay yesterday.

"If it's a nice day [today] I'd like to get out and do a bit of fishing and just relax. I haven't done that for a while. It's nice when you deserve it as well."

Sigmund, who performed well under pressure on Sunday, was doing his best to play down the battle with McKain.

"At the end of the day, we've all had to do our time and sit games out. Whoever comes in, and whatever job they get, we know they'll be doing it hard."

Not much could have wiped the smile off coach Ricki Herbert's face yesterday, but there was a wince at the thought of having to leave one of those two players out.

"We'll see," he said of the decision.

Asked if it would be a decision based on training this week, or McKain's performances in recent weeks, Herbert said: "It's a tough one. I'm not sure yet."

Sydney have been a stumbling block for the Phoenix this season, with three of their seven losses coming against the Sky Blues.

Sigmund, however, said a one-off finals scenario, and the team's high confidence levels, would mean that – and a below par away record – would count for little.

"We're a lot more confident than we were back then. I think we've come a long way. Everyone wants to do it for each other," he said.

"And it was quite nice to see Sydney and Melbourne go to extra time [on Sunday]. They will be tired, too. It's been a long season for everyone."

Herbert bristled at suggestions from across the ditch that Sydney and Melbourne were a level above the Phoenix and that the dream run would end this weekend.

"That's probably not [fair]. Nobody expected us to be where we are now."

On the injury front, Herbert said goal-scorer Paul Ifill had a "little problem" with a leg but it would not be an issue this week.

Meanwhile, Phoenix chief executive Tony Pignata is talking to A-League sponsor Qantas about special options for fans wanting to attend the match.

He is also hoping to get a bigger plane to accommodate the team on the Thursday afternoon flight to Sydney. There are currently not enough seats for the entire squad and the Phoenix would prefer not to have an early morning flight.

Log-on to dompost.co.nz to see our photographers' slideshow from the match between the Phoenix and the Jets.

- © Fairfax NZ News