As Wellington Phoenix prepare for a sudden death A-League playoff match in Adelaide on Friday night, there's good reason for hope to be replaced by optimism.

While trips to Adelaide - in fact - ANY match against Adelaide - used to be regarded with dread by Phoenix supporters, there are signs that things are turning around.

After not managing a win in their first eight meetings against Adelaide, Phoenix have won three of their last four against them, including a first ever victory at Hindmarsh Stadium just 11 days ago.

There's also close to a full roster now for coach Ricki Herbert to choose from.  Andrew Durante returns from suspension, and provided he can get through training OK, last season's player of the year Paul Ifill will be on the bench, having not played since injuring his knee just before Xmas.

A number of other Phoenix players are also hitting form at the right time.  Dylan Macallister and Chris Greenacre are scoring goals.  Marco Rojas and Nick Ward look dangerous in wide attacking positions.  Ben Sigmund is immense at the back and Danny Vukovic commanding in goal.

But the key man for Phoenix will be the unsung hero and my man of the season, Manny Muscat.  When these two sides met in Christchurch, Muscat rendered Marcos Flores so ineffective that the Adelaide playmaker was substituted with ten minutes to go having had minimal impact on proceedings. If Flores can again be nullified by Muscat's tight marking, much of Adelaide's threat is quashed. 

After an inconsistent season where winning back to back matches has proved largely elusive, Phoenix have won three of their last four games. Adelaide meantime, have won just one of their last four.

It also seems the trick for Phoenix is to score first. They've done that 14 times this season, and haven't lost any of those games.

Conversely, when they concede the first goal - which has happened 15 times, they've only won once. But that one occasion was against - you guessed it - Adelaide United.

Phoenix fans used to utter silent prayers when their team travelled to the city of churches.

Now, they believe.