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\u201cHow do you deal with them? I think you have to try and limit the amount of controlled possession that they have because they\u2019re good with the ball. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve got to be tuned in tactically, and make sure that we\u2019re organised and secure, especially from that defensive point of view. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAs much as they have a threat going forward, they\u2019ve also shown vulnerabilities at the back, and we\u2019ve got to try and play into some spaces and expose that. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI think it\u2019s two pretty similar teams in terms of style and what we\u2019re trying to do. I\u2019m looking forward to this one.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
After a close loss to the Central Coast Mariners last week, there is extra incentive to secure points in the playoff hunt. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThere\u2019s always things to improve on. It was a pretty tight game, there wasn\u2019t a huge amount in it. But there are definitely some things we can work on. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe were talking about what our DNA is and making sure we\u2019re bringing that to all the games. That was probably the little bit of essence that was missing from our performance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe weren\u2019t quite as aggressive with the press and with the ball in terms of the runs and the forward nature of our play up until that point in the season.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe were probably five or ten percent below where we usually are, and I think that made a big difference. It\u2019s just about getting back to that against Brisbane this week.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n And new signing Amelia Abbott could make her debut after impressing in training. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cShe\u2019s getting better every session, you can see the sharpness coming, fitness coming. She\u2019s pushing, and could be involved this week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cShe\u2019s played in midfield, at centre back for her university. She gives us some really good options. We\u2019ve looked at her at fullback in training as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cShe\u2019s a real utility as to what she can do for the team, so a good player to have around.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Travelling to Queensland also presents a different environment, with difficult weather and a raucous home crowd both expected to feature heavily. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt\u2019ll be hotter than Wellington. We\u2019re expecting more heat and humidity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI stayed on in Sydney for a day and I think we had about 39 degrees. We had thunderstorms, it\u2019s muggy and a different climate to Wellington. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt\u2019s another challenge, but at the moment we\u2019re getting that quite consistently when we go to Australia so we\u2019re getting used to it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019m also looking forward to getting to Perry Park, I think it\u2019s awesome what they\u2019ve been doing there, getting big crowds. We wax lyrical about Porirua Park, and what that brings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cTwo away trips in a row is a breeze compared to last season. I think it\u2019s been a hard start to the week, but the last few days have been sharp, players have been back at it. We\u2019ll go to Brisbane ready and fully fit.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n The round 14 Ninja A-League match between the Wellington Phoenix and Brisbane Roar is scheduled to kick-off at Perry Park in Brisbane at 8pm (5pm AEST) Sunday and will be broadcast LIVE on Sky Sport 2 in New Zealand and on Paramount+ and 10 Play in Australia. <\/p>\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/wellingtonphoenix.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2025\/02\/Amelia-Abbott.jpg?w=1200\")
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