Phoenix ready to fight it out for a top four place

Ernie Merrick's boxing analogy for Wellington Phoenix is particularly apt going into Sunday's A-League clash against Melbourne City.

Albert Riera is set to return to the Phoenix midfield against Melbourne City. (AAP) Source: AAP

Pounded 3-0 in successive weeks at home by Melbourne Victory and Sydney FC, Wellington desperately needs a win if it wants to hang onto a top-four placing going into the finals.

It's slipped from top of the table to fourth, two points behind leader Victory and one point ahead of fifth-placed Sydney.

Merrick believes Phoenix has been punished by a recent tendency to concede early goals.

"If we were in boxing, it's like being knocked down in the first round, and that keeps happening," he said.

"We've got to stop it."

Merrick was disappointed that Phoenix had conceded a goal inside the first 10 minutes in its last three games.

"It's very important we get our structure right, right from the start."

Wellington was on edge in training this week, with midfielders Vince Lia and Alex Rodriguez squaring off after a heavy tackle in an intense session.

A few words from skipper Andrew Durante cooled tensions, and Merrick called the altercation an encouraging sign.

"I think there's a lot determination to do well and compete, and that's fairly normal at training. I'd rather see that than everyone being good mates and losing 3-0 again," he said.

Phoenix will be back to near full-strength, with key midfielders Lia and Albert Riera returning, although central defender Ben Sigmund will miss another week with a quad strain.

Wellington struggled in the middle last week, with its midfield often exposed.

"The midfield structure was poor - we weren't good at holding possession and we weren't good at defending in the midfield," Merrick said.

"That's been our strength all year, but I thought we were exposed a little bit too much through lack of possession and good defensive structure in the midfield.

"It's all about that first 15 minutes - setting up, sussing out the opposition and making sure we don't commit all our numbers forward in the first few minutes and concede a goal.

"If we get it right now, we'll be better for it in the finals."