The first of Saturday A-League Round 17 matches is between Wellington Phoenix and Adelaide United. The game is set to commence at 5.30pm with the game to be played at Westpac Stadium. Home team Wellington Phoenix go into the match as the favourites in the market. View our preview and teams for the game between Wellington Phoenix and Adelaide United.

Round: Round 17, Saturday, February 1 at 5.30pm AEDT (7.30pm local time).
Stadium: Westpac Stadium
Head to head: Played 19 – Wins: Phoenix 4, Adelaide 9, Draws: 6
Previous encounter: Phoenix 2 – 2 Adelaide, February 24, 2013

Wellington Phoenix $2.05 vs Adelaide United $3.50 at Sportsbet Australia get a $250 FREE BET on this match

Wellington Phoenix $2.20 vs Adelaide United $3.05 at Luxbet Australia get a $500 FREE BET on this match

Odds Comparison:

Wellington Phoenix	2.05	2.17	2.20	2.17	2.05	2.10
Draw	3.40	3.50	3.35	3.50	3.40	3.40
Adelaide United	3.50	3.20	3.05	3.20	3.50	3.20

All odds are subject to change. Odds listed are correct at the time of the latest update.

Teams:

Wellington Phoenix Squad:
1.Glen MOSS (GK), 2.Manny MUSCAT, 3.Reece CAIRA, 5.Michael BOXALL, 7.Leo BERTOS, 9.Kenny CUNNINGHAM, 10.Stein HUYSEGEMS, 11.Jeremy BROCKIE, 12.Tyler BOYD, 13.Albert RIERA, 15.Jason HICKS, 17.Vince LIA, 18.Ben SIGMUND, 20.Lewis ITALIANO (GK), 21.Carlos HERNANDEZ, 22.Andrew DURANTE (c), 23.Matthew RIDENTON, 24.Roy KRISHNA.
**Two to be omitted**
Ins: 9. Kenny Cunningham (returns from international duty), 21. Carlos Hernandez (returns from international duty), 23. Matthew Ridenton (returns from injury).
Outs: 14. Alex Rufer (omitted).
Unavailable: 8. Paul Ifill (ruptured Achilles, season), 16. Louis Fenton (shoulder injury, season).

Adelaide United squad:

1.Eugene GALEKOVIC (GK) (c), 3.Nigel BOOGAARD, 4.Jon McKAIN, 5. Osama MALIK, 7.JERONIMO, 8.ISAIAS, 9. Sergio CIRIO, 10.Marcelo CARRUSCA, 11. Bruce DJITE, 14.Cameron WATSON, 16.Daniel BOWLES, 17. Awer MABIL, 20.Paul IZZO (GK), 21.Tarek ELRICH, 22. Fabio FERREIRA, 23.Jordan ELSEY, 31.Ryan GRIFFITHS
**One to be omitted**
Ins: 9.Sergio CIRIO (returns from injury), 16.Daniel BOWLES (promoted),
Outs: 13.Steven LUSTICA (omitted)
Unavailable: 6.CASSIO (hamstring tendon – indefinite), 12.Antony GOLEC (China), 15.Jacob MELLING (knee – 3 weeks), 18.Michael ZULLO (hamstring – test )

Preview:

Form:

Past five matches

Phoenix: LWDWW

Adelaide: DWWDW

The Game:

Wellington Phoenix head coach Ernie Merrick will be thrilled with the news Carlos Hernandez has been passed fit to play against Adelaide United.

The 31-year-old attacking midfielder has been critical to Wellington’s best performances this season with three goals and six assists in 12 games but was in doubt after limping off during the Phoenix’s 5-0 thrashing of Melbourne Victory a fortnight ago.

Hernandez then travelled to the United States to play just seven minutes for Costa Rica in a friendly against South Korea before returning to New Zealand but has been named in Wellington’s squad for Saturday’s game.

Hernandez’s international and club teammate Kenny Cunningham is also back in Merrick’s squad, while Matthew Ridenton returns from injury with Alex Rufer omitted after last week’s 2-1 loss to Brisbane Roar.

Wellington will face the form team of the competition at Westpac Stadium with Adelaide United undefeated in seven matches.

The Reds were lucky to claim a 2-2 draw last week against Melbourne Heart with Ryan Griffiths scoring a late equaliser but with Sergio Cirio fit again, Adelaide head coach Josep Gombau will head to Wellington with plenty of confidence.

The big issue:

Phoenix – After Wellington’s big win over Victory in their last home game, most pundits predicted the Phoenix would make the A-League finals.

While Merrick’s men were again competitive against A-League leaders Brisbane last week, they also lost and cannot afford that result to be the start of a mini-slump.

For all Wellington’s good work since just before Christmas, they remain four points outside the top six and must keep picking up points to ensure they make the finals. Can they bounce back this week?

Adelaide – Sixteen rounds into the 2013-14 A-League season and Gombau’s side are set to play Wellington for the first time on Saturday.

Gaining a mental edge on the Phoenix this weekend could be crucial for Adelaide, who face a tough run into the finals. In the remaining 11 rounds, the Reds have seven away games, including two in Wellington.

They have only won once away from home this season and another victory on the road this week would hand them a crucial psychological boost.

The game breaker:

Stein Huysegems – When the Belgian striker missed a penalty in Wellington’s 1-0 loss to Central Coast Mariners at North Sydney Oval before Christmas, few would have predicted Huysegems would top the A-League goal-scoring table just over a month later.

But that is what has happened with the 31-year-old having struck six times since in as many games.

Huysegems (eight goals) leads Alessandro Del Piero and James Troisi (both seven) and his lethal left boot could decide the Phoenix’s fate against Adelaide.

Source: www.footballaustralia.com.au