1 Jan 2017

Phoenix not underestimating bottom-placed Adelaide

3:14 pm on 1 January 2017

The Wellington Phoenix are not underestimating the ability of bottom-placed Adelaide United, who they face in tonight's A-League football clash at Westpac Stadium.

The Phoenix are hoping to extend their unbeaten run to four games when they return to their Wellington home ground for the first time since the Kaikoura earthquake, which caused minor damage to the stadium.

The Wellington Pheonix celebrate a goal

The Wellington Pheonix celebrate a goal Photo: Photosport

The defending A-League champions Adelaide are languishing at the bottom of the table with only one win this season.

But that sole victory was a 2-0 win over the Phoenix four weeks ago, when they hosted the Wellington club at Hindmarsh Stadium.

Phoenix co-coach Chris Greenacre said Adelaide are no easy beats.

"They're still a good team, I mean, they won the league last year and they've still got some real quality players," Greenacre said.

"For some reason it's just not quite happening for them this year and they've found themselves at the foot of the table, so we have to be at our best...to beat them."

His fellow Phoenix coach Des Buckingham agrees that Adelaide's position on the table doesn't reflect what a quality side they are.

"They're a dangerous team. They seem to be getting caught out with mistakes or individual errors that cost them goals, and Sydney last week was an example of that," Buckingham said.

"But they've got a very, very experienced team and it's...very similar players [those who] won them the Championship and the play-offs last year."

Midfielders Michael McGlinchy and Alex Rodriguez will make their return from injury tonight, with both players named in the Phoenix starting line-up.

Kick-off is at 7.30pm.

- RNZ