The Big Match: Another top two classic

Top-of-the-table clashes seem to come along almost weekly in the A-League these days and we've got another one when Wellington Phoenix hosts Melbourne Victory at Westpac Stadium on Sunday. Phoenix beware, because Victory is out to get square. It should be a fabulous clash.

Wellington Phoenix's central defender Andrew Durante (left) will be looking to contain Melbourne Victory striker Besart Berisha (right) (AAP) Source: AAP

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Why you should watch it

Because as Sir Alex Ferguson once put it - not so eloquently, but certainly accurately - it's "squeaky bum time".

There are four rounds left before the finals. Every result is important, but when you get a top-of-the-table clash like this it becomes even more important because it's not only about the points but also how you compare against a fellow contender at the business end of the season.

It's not going to be good for either team to look bad in a game like this, with both trying to get their game right for the big end-of-season matches ahead.

What happened last time they played

Plenty. Victory had a heap of first-half chances at AAMI Park on 1 March, but the best it could do was a 1-0 lead and by halftime it was 1-1.

Victory took the lead again in the second half, but again Phoenix levelled and entering the final 20 minutes we had a 2-2 score-line on our hands and two teams who weren't content to bank a point.

Victory was committing players forward and Phoenix was hitting it on the break. Eventually, Phoenix quickly moved the ball down the right and created an opportunity for Nathan Burns to score, which he finished off perfectly in the 77th minute.

Phoenix held on to win 3-2 and Victory was left to lament missed opportunities.

Key battles

Phoenix's central defensive pairing of Andrew Durante and Ben Sigmund has got to know when to hold 'em and when to fold 'em against Victory's central striker, Besart Berisha.

It wasn't a good day for the Phoenix defence against Sydney FC last weekend and it needs to get it straight back into gear here. Decisions made by the central defenders on who picks up Berisha when he makes a run have to be perfect. He who hesitates will be lost.

Victory fullbacks Jason Geria and Daniel Georgievski face the challenge of Phoenix's wide attackers - Michael McGlinchey and Nathan Burns - trying to funnel into the box against them.

There is no bigger test for a fullback than an opponent who can dribble the ball at speed and change angle whilst maintaining tremendous close control. Burns and McGlinchey are both great at that.

Why Phoenix will win

This is a statement game for Wellington. It was disappointing against Sydney FC last weekend and a second straight loss at home against a fellow championship contender would be major blow to its campaign. It will be pumped up to prove a point.

But it's no good being pumped if you haven't got the artillery and the return of Burns and McGlinchey from international duty after missing the game against Sydney will boost Phoenix's confidence enormously.

Why Victory will win

It believes it should have won the last time the two teams met and will be desperate to make up for that.

It failed to grasp an opportunity to take the competition lead when it played Perth Glory in a top-of-the-table clash four rounds back and isn't the type of team to waste a second chance when it gets one.

What the players are saying

Wellington captain Andrew Durante says the thought of finals football just a few weeks away has the players buzzing for a big game like this.

"It's exciting times," he said. "The finals are around the corner and we've missed them the last couple of seasons, so it's nice to be in the mix again. Every game is very important now and we want to finish well enough to be playing finals at home."

Victory playmaker Gui Finkler says his team has so many goal-scorers in form that the players are confident the necessary strikes will come from somewhere.

"We've got a lot of players who have been on the score-sheet a number of times this season," he said. "We know we've got a lot of players who can decide the game.

"Archie (Thompson) was coming off the bench, but then he started and scored in back-to-back games. It just shows you the strength we've got."

What the coaches are saying

Phoenix coach Ernie Merrick is confident his team will show it has learned from what happened against Sydney FC.

"I don't have concerns, we've been playing great football," he said. "We don't lose many games - we've won more games than any team in the league, and we're still top.

"I think you have to put it in perspective and say that's a real learning experience, which it's best to have now, while we're still top of the league, than have it in the finals."

Victory's Kevin Muscat is upbeat as his players vie for the competition lead.

"We go there with so much to play for," Muscat said. "The players have prepared well, we’ve got all the boys back from international duty, so it gives us a full group to select from, and we’ll go across with some confidence."

The villain

The last thing a crowd full of Kiwis wants to see is another Kiwi ruining their day, but there is the potential for that to happen with Kosta Barbarouses named in the Victory squad.

Barbarouses has been out of action with a hamstring injury, but regardless of whether Victory coach Kevin Muscat uses him from the start or off the bench he is capable of driving the defence mad when he runs the ball into the penalty box.

The hero

Nathan Burns has become a firm favourite with Wellington fans in his first season at the club. He is an attacking dynamo who has come up with 13 goals and forced his way back into the Socceroos squad.

It was his international commitments that kept Burns out of last weekend's loss to Sydney FC and Phoenix missed him badly. If he can make a big impact in his return and maybe score the winning goal the crowd will want to carry him off on their shoulders.

The match in numbers

Victory has been dominant over Phoenix, winning 13 of the 23 clashes. Phoenix has won four and six have been drawn.

In Wellington the picture looks considerably better for Phoenix, although there is still a slight edge to Victory with four wins in the 10 clashes. Phoenix has three wins and three have been drawn.

It has been a long time since a game between these two finished in a draw - 27 November, 2010, in Wellington, to be exact. We're on a 12-game streak without a draw.

The last 10 clashes overall have seen Victory win eight and Phoenix  just two, but those two Phoenix wins have come in the last four clashes in an indication of the gap narrowing since former Victory coach Ernie Merrick took over at Wellington.

Victory has won three of the last five clashes in Wellington, with the two other resulting in Phoenix wins.

The verdict

This should be a great contest, with plenty of exciting ball movement and end-to-end action. There is usually no shortage of goals in Phoenix-Victory matches and it would be a shock if we didn't see multiple goals again.

But who will win is the question and the Victory squad is at full strength, while Wellington's midfield is affected with Albert Riera out suspended and Vince Lia injured.

Anything could happen in this game, but my gut feeling is that Victory will show why it is the championship favourite and win a high-quality game on the road.