The Phoenix are undefeated at Westpac Stadium since October 2008, but Arnold believes the fast-starting Mariners can break their run.
 
"It's going to be a very tough game," Arnold said. "Wellington are unbeaten at home in 21 games and a lot of their players are coming off the back of a successful World Cup campaign and they are riding a high at the moment, so it is going to be very difficult, but very interesting."
 
And the Mariners should head into the clash on a high too, after an opening day win against Melbourne Heart was backed up by a 1-1 draw at home to Adelaide United.

While those two results keep the Yellow and Navy's unbeaten start alive, it could quite easily have been back-to-back victories, after coming home with a wet sail against the Reds, including having a late penalty shout knocked back.
 
"It's been a good start to the season," Arnold added. "Four points from a possible six is good but I'm a bit disappointed we didn't get all three points last week against Adelaide.

"That's the way things go, and normally those things even themselves out over the year.
 
"We worked a lot last week on our attacking play. Disappointing was our midfield shape in transition, they weren't getting ready for the second ball but we emphasised that during the week because Adelaide are a counter attack team.

"But our second-half was much better. We fixed that at half-time and I thought our second-half performance was very promising, very good, so it is something to build on for sure.
 
Wellington's 3-3 draw with Gold Coast United last Friday night was overshadowed by the atrocious weather conditions which confronted the two sides in the New Zealand capital.

With the heavy rain forecast to continue this week, Arnold believes that could work in the visiting team's favour.
 
"It doesn't affect our prep because we have a good field here and plenty of time to train, and hopefully they're not training at all," Arnold said.
 
"Obviously it will affect the tactics a little bit, it's pretty hard to play football on that type of surface so we might have to change the tactics when we get there, but for now we go ahead with what we were planning to do."
 
In exciting news for Mariners fans, Argentine livewire Patricio Perez is edging closer to a debut, and has travelled with the team across the Tasman.

However Arnold fears those characteristic weather conditions may delay his maiden appearance for the Gosford based club for another week.
 
"Patricio Perez is coming along very well, but the condition of the field might have a bearing on whether or not he plays on Sunday after having a hamstring injury," Arnold said.

"But we have 22 fit players, 22 healthy players, so it's a good headache to have."