[1] Ricki Herbert Ricki Herbert might have a few more cards to play when his Wellington Phoenix side meet Adelaide United at Eden Park on Saturday night.
After battling away with only 15 or 16 players for the past few weeks due to injuries and suspensions, a couple of players look like they could be available to Herbert.
Vince Lia (knee) took a full part in training today and Paul Ifill also showed no lingering signs of the groin injury which has kept him sidelined for the past month. Striker Mirjan Pavlovic (arm) also ran around with plenty of energy.
Herbert was hopeful of having some rare options for his squad this weekend, which will mark the first time the team has played at Eden Park, but they will be cautious around some players.
"I think it'll be another 24 hours. We'll just assess where we are at,'' Herbert said.
"Daniel (hamstring) trained today, Dani Sanchez (hip flexor) hasn't trained. We'll see how he is in the morning. Ifill's been training. Vince Lia's been training. I'm not sure if they're as far forward as we would've liked but we are going to travel everyone. The only one who's not going to go is Lucas Pantelis (knee) who's obviously gone for the year.
"Pav's probably another week. I would say Paul's probably another week as well. Pav's just ready [to train] because he's got a small cast on his arm. But it's there solidifying the break.''
The Phoenix trained today for the first time since their 1-all draw with the Brisbane Roar at Suncorp Stadium on Sunday, which stopped a three-game losing streak.
Herbert said the result had changed the attitude of the players.
"To come away with something from it was good really.
"[There was a] good spring in the step, I thought. The first training session back this morning was really lively. So that's good and I think a few extra faces around doesn't do us any harm, either. So there's a little bit more to select from hopefully.''
If Lia proves his fitness, he could slot in to a midfield role but his selection will depend on how Sanchez pulls up.
The Spaniard suffered his hip flexor ailment in the warm-up before the clash with Brisbane, which elevated Daniel from the bench to the starting side and he failed to get through 90 minutes after a hamstring injury which had plagued him leading in to the game flared up.
Adelaide bounced back to form with a 3-0 win over Gold Coast last week, the same side the Phoenix share bottom place on the A-League ladder with.
But Herbert said the league was so tight that a bit of form could see you jump up the table in no time.
"I think [Adelaide] got back on track last week, good result for them. I think they'll travel pretty buoyantly. It's so tight and congested in there. I think just three points. If you put a couple [of wins] together you are right back in the frame again. So I think they'll come here with a good spring in their step.''
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