How will the Phoenix line up for their season opener against Queensland this weekend? That is an interesting question, considering the various line-ups that Ricki Herbert has toyed with throughout their pre-season campaign.

I think Herbert will opt for a 4-2-3-1 formation, which is essentially what they put out in the Pre-Season Cup Final against the Melbourne Victory last week. This gives a solid platform at the back and some stability in the center of midfield, as well as giving some of the more adventurous midfielders and wingers the chance to have a free role behind a target man in the middle up front.

You’d have to start with Moss between the sticks. He was one of the standouts of the previous campaign, and has done nothing since to suggest he is anything but Herbert’s first choice.

I think that the two central defenders select themselves. John McKain has produced some outstanding performances in pre-season and the ever reliable Andrew Durrante will partner him and skipper the side. I am going to go out on a bit of a limb and say that Herbert will take a gamble and start David Mulligan at right back. Whilst the former Barnsley man is lacking some match fitness, his experience and ability at set pieces will be a welcome addition to the side. I also think that Ricki Herbert will start with Tony Lochhead on the left. The pacy wing back recently missed out on a contract at Middlesborough, but will no doubt be keen to show them what they have missed out on.

New signing Manny Muscat can probably consider himself a little unlucky not to have a starting berth (assuming my prediction is correct), but I think Herbert will look to put his best foot forward and Mulligan and Lochhead provide the adventure and impetus to push forward and create chances more than the defensively minded Muscat. However, with Vince Lia being out of the side due to injury, Muscat will provide some much needed cover and versatility for the squad.

The midfield is arguably where the Phoenix have the most competition for places. The two holding midfielders in front of the back four are the two most difficult to place. Richard Johnson, Karl Dodd, Michael Ferrante and Tim Brown are all vying for sports, and with Tim Brown only just starting to play again following a long injury layoff, I think it is safe to rule him out for the weekend’s match.

I’m going to go out on a limb to an extent, and go with Ferrante and Dodd. Ferrante’s distribution is superb, and the former West Ham and Melbourne Victory man has made himself the first choice for the center of midfield. His ability to get forward and assist the front players, as well as his movement around the park on defence makes him the first choice for me. Johnson played well against the Victory in the Pre Season Cup final, but did look a little leaden-footed towards the end of the match and I’m not convinced that he is able to graft in that holding role for 90 minutes. Herbert seems keen to run Dodd in that role, and whilst a few of my fellow supporters may disagree, I think that he has performed well there from what I have seen. Whilst his decision making seems a little hesitant at times, his distribution is excellent which more than makes up for it.

The three midfielders is also a difficult proposition, as there are four quality players that will continually compete for places. Leo Bertos, Lei Lei Gao, Daniel and Adam Kwasnik are the front runners for spots, which gives Herbert a wealth of options. Gao’s fitness is questionable following a hamstring strain that he picked up at training this week, so on that assumption my job becomes a little easier! My pick is Bertos, Daniel and Kwasnik, and I would expect to see them all roaming around the pitch rather than fixing themselves in specific roles.

Obviously, Smeltz is the main man up front, and us Wellingtonians are hoping to see a similar return on goals to what we saw last year.

Coming off the bench, expect to see strong performances from Troy Hearfield and Costa Barbarouses. Both players are young and fearless, and will snatch any opportunity they are given.

Adam Brown is one of the founders of Yellow Fever – the Wellington Phoenix supporters group. As a freelance writer, he covers football for Sportal in both New Zealand and Australia as well as writing for several local publications. He is a keen footballer himself, but has never managed to excel beyond plodding through the local divisions in Wellington.

Photo credit: Adam Brown