To see today's training session...

To see yesterday's Phoenix training session...

Sydney entertain bottom-of-the-table Phoenix at the SFS with the coach still angry over how his team threw away a three-goal lead last week.

Speaking after training today, the coach revealed the 3-3 draw against Central Coast last week had been a bitter pill to swallow.

He said: "I still haven't got over it. I just said that to them (the players), I've been cranky all week.

"That was worse than losing, to give something away like that because you've had right it in the palm of your hand.

"But I think there were legitimate reasons why. Our inexperience was probably one of the more valid ones.

He added: "I think it was a good lesson to be learned for everybody, including myself, of how we went about things in the last 20 minutes of the game.

"One of the players actually said it, we became a bit complacent during the course of the game. We got to 3-0 and all of a sudden the cigars come out.

"But Central Coast aren't the sort of side you can let back into a game.

"I don't think anyone is going to be complacent this week after what happened last week and Wellington have done us twice (once in league and once in pre-season cup)."

Most of the players will be a given a chance to redeem themselves against Phoenix although Adam Casey misses out through injury.

Skipper Tony Popovic will return but John Aloisi will have to make do with a spot on the bench again. Clint Bolton will play for the youth league side before taking his place on the bench.

Kosmina said: "If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Bridgey does a good job as a point man. It'll give Johnny a chance to play himself into some form.

"We're doing a bit of extra work on his conditioning as well because he did miss a lot of pre-season and maybe we could have kept him out a bit longer but I'm still happy with his progress and contribution.

"No disrespect to the players that played last week, had Poppa been on the field, we wouldn't have got ourselves into that situation. We didn't get organised and stay organised."

Popovic is looking forward to getting back into action but is impressed by the way the club's young defenders have stepped up.

He said: "They've done a great job so far. They're young boys and as a youngster I had a lot of great advice from experienced players. Hopefully I can give them some of that advice.

"It's just little things you pick up as a defender over the years, when to go, when to cover. Nothing major at all.

"Last week is finished now and we're just focused on Wellington. We will be fired up.

"I'm sure Wellington will come here with a belief that they can do it again (win).

"But we want to keep our unbeaten run at home."

Asked to assess the club's campaign at the halfway stage, Popovic said: "Solid. We haven't been great, we haven't been poor. It's okay.

"There's a lot of improvement to do. We've got high standards here and high expectations. We want to be the best and we're not quite there yet."

To see today's training session...

To see yesterday's Phoenix training session...