Annalie Longo of the Phoenix celebrates after scoring a goal during the A League Women - Wellington Phoenix v Brisbane Roar at Sky Stadium, Wellington, New Zealand on Saturday 4 November 2023 Copyright photo: Masanori Udagawa / www.photosport.nz Photo: Masanori Udagawa
The Wellington Phoenix hope Porirua Park can become "a little fortress" for them during the women's A-League season.
The Phoenix will play their first match at their new second home on Sunday, when they play host to last season's beaten finalists Western United.
They are scheduled to play a further five of their remaining seven home matches this campaign at Porirua Park and head coach Paul Temple is looking forward to the change of scenery.
"We actually had a few seasons with the men's reserves there at Porirua Park and it was always great," Temple said.
"The pitch is nice, it's had a revamp since the World Cup…so it should be a good surface.
"But I'm really looking forward to the tighter crowd and the stand being close. Hopefully if we can get 2000 people there, pack the grandstand out and get some atmosphere around the pitch then it will hopefully become a little cauldron for us, a little fortress.
"It's going to be really cool to play there and I'm excited about the atmosphere that it can create. Hopefully the fans feel the same and they can make some noise and help us."
After a first up defeat in Perth, Western United bounced back with a win over Melbourne Victory in round two before drawing with Melbourne City last weekend.
"They're one of the better sides in the competition based on them making the grand final in their debut season," Temple said.
"We're going to have to be at our best to get points against teams like Western United.
"I think we're very aware of what they're going to bring. They're strong, physical, have been good on the counter-attack this season and they don't know when they're beaten, they keep going and going."
Temple will be forced to make at least one change to his starting XI as a result of Grace Wisnewski's season-ending knee injury.
Captain Annalie Longo is an option after she marked her long-awaited club debut with a stunning goal but Longo herself is still returning to full fitness after suffering a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) last year.
"We've got to consider she's come off the back of the ACL and got back very quickly for the World Cup, and while she was able to play she didn't have long minutes so we're just going to be cautious in getting her back to 90 minutes," Temple said.
"The best thing for her is that we still make sure…we're not rushing that process too much, because we want her for the long-term.
"I would imagine 45 to an hour is what we'll see and then we'll keep building from there."
Canadian goalkeeper Rylee Foster is also a chance of returning to the XI after missing last week's match against the Brisbane Roar with a strained Achilles.
