11 Feb 2011

Durante says Phoenix need to win to build momentum for playoffs

6:46 pm on 11 February 2011

The Wellington Phoenix football side needs only a point from their final game of the regular season to seal an A-League playoff spot, but nothing less than a win will satisfy captain Andrew Durante.

Durante who was forced to sit out Wednesday's two nil to to Sydney as the first part of a two-game suspension, won't be on the field against North Queensland on Sunday in Wellington either but is confident his team-mates will finish the regular season with a win.

Durante says while they only need to draw to advance to the top six playoffs, that would be disappointing as they need to win so as to build confidence going into the playoffs.

Against Sydney the Phoenix sorely missed the experience of Durante, Ben Sigmund, Vince Lia and Manny Muscat but Sigmund and Muscat will return for the match against the bottom of the table North Queensland who've won only four of their 29 games this season.