Herbert calls for improvement

CHRIS SKLETON/The Dominion Post

NOT WORRIED: Wellington Phoenix coach Ricki Herbert says he's not spooked by Melbourne Victory's spectacular return to form.

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Wellington Phoenix coach Ricki Herbert is urging his team to focus more on performance and less on the away match factor ahead of Sunday's round six A-League soccer match against Perth Glory.

The 5250km journey to Western Australia is the longest road trip in any domestic competition in the world, and the Phoenix have struggled in Perth, having lost their last three matches there without scoring a goal.

But Herbert has attempted to shift the players' mindsets away from talk of travel and patchy away form. He wants major improvements across the board after a lacklustre showing in last Friday's 0-1 loss to Brisbane Roar, and insists there is no reason why they cannot reproduce their home form - they are unbeaten in 21 matches in Wellington dating back to 2008 - in Australia.

"I've said to the players it's about performing," Herbert said.

"It's not about saying 'oh, we're away again'. We're not in that headspace at all. I think the travel is irrelevant."

Captain Andrew Durante believed the Phoenix were "too good a team" to not regularly start winning in Australia.

Last season they managed just three wins and five draws from 14 away matches, but that was an improvement on previous seasons and the central defender was confident they could make further improvements.

"It's just a mental thing and once we get the mindset to play away the way we do at home, we'll be fine," said Durante, who will make his 50th appearance for the Phoenix, as will All Whites winger Leo Bertos.

"I think it's a flow on effect and it starts with everyone individually.

"At the back we need to be tighter and maybe set up the play better for the guys up front, but we need to be more creative in the front third. At home, Paul Ifill's dynamic and gets at players, but we just didn't do that against Brisbane."

Herbert said he was keeping an open mind on team selections and would not name his team until tomorrow, but the only expected change is Troy Hearfield in for Manny Muscat at right back.

Muscat is on international duty in Europe and played 11 minutes as a substitute in Malta's 1-3 loss to Israel overnight.

New signing Nick Ward has joined the squad in Perth but is unlikely to start, although Herbert may opt for the former Melbourne Victory midfielder over Oscar 'Toto' Cornejo on the bench.

Tim Brown and Vince Lia, who have made quiet starts to the season in the middle, will be looking over their shoulders following Ward's arrival and with players such as Daniel and Cornejo biding their time.

There is an injury cloud over goalkeeper Mark Paston, who has struggled with a groin strain during the past two weeks.

He will be given until tomorrow to prove his fitness, otherwise Danny Vukovic will make his debut for the club.

Leaders Perth, who have a two-win, two-draw record, are buoyed by the return from injury of striker Mile Strejovski and defender-cum-striker Jamie Harnwell and are keen to avenge their penalty shootout playoff loss to Wellington last season.

-NZPA