The club has been accepted into New Zealand's domestic competition next season. However, it's unclear what format the league will take with speculation the NZ FC could be regionalised.

The club will also continue to pursue fielding a team in the NYL and insists its fringe and youth players must get game time. They say the inherent disadvantage to the club's playing roster cannot be allowed for another season.

"Whatever it is, these players need to play," a frustrated Tony Pignata, club CEO, told au.fourfourtwo.com.

"We're bringing people like Costa Barbarouses through but he's hardly had any game time yet he still played well on Sunday and scored. And there's Marco Rojas, Diego, Michael Ferrante... all first team players who can't get into squad.

"We need to push forward in either the A-League youth system or the NZ system. But it's something we're really going to hammer and make sure it happens next season."

The club's NYL potential is exemplified by the young All-Whites under Steve Cain's mentoring who have shone at the U17 World Cup, qualifying from their group stage (unlike Brazil or Holland) to play host nation Nigeria tomorrow in the round of 16.

With New Zealand' national team on the cusp of World Cup qualification with a do-or-die clash with Bahrain in Wellington on November 14, football is on the rise across the ditch and Phoenix continue to press for clarification on their licence to play in the A-League.

The club argues that it's a stable, well-run and well financed club with excellent facilities.

In fact, the club's owner, wealthy businessman Terry Serepisos, is so respected in his home country, he's become the Kiwi version of Donald Trump in New Zealand's The Apprentice TV show.

But with AFC boss Mohamed Bin Hammam stating publicly his disdain for a New Zealand (OFC) domiciled club in an AFC league, the club is still unsure of its future beyond its current licence agreement.

FIFA have made positive comments about the club in the past, as have FFA, but the long-term future of the club remains up in the air. 

"We want it sorted out sooner rather than later but these things take time," said Pignata. "We've been told that we're in the league. It's definite for next year but for how long... we have another year on the FIFA ruling."

Pignata says the club is moving ahead despite the uncertainty building a football culture in the Kiwi capital that will stand the test of time.

"We want to be here not only for the next year but the next ten and beyond," he said. "We want to build a club, a culture and we are doing that.

"We're doing a lot of things on and off the pitch right. Our crowds are up 12% and we're signing players. Terry's sat down with the squad and said he's here for the long haul.

"But the question was asked by the players [about the licence] and rightly so."

Pignata continues to be as diplomatic as possible but behind the scenes the club is irate the process is taking so long.  

He added: "Just tell us what we need to do and we'll do it."

Meanwhile, Phoenix will look to bounce back after Sunday's 3-1 reversal against Sydney FC at the SFS.

With just one full day back in Wellington (the team flew back  on Monday), there is little time to prepare for Wednesday night's clash with Newcastle at Westpac stadium.

But Sunday's goalscorer Costa Barbarouses is confident  of defeating the Jets and extending an unbeaten home run of 11 matches.

"We've got a good team, we're combining well and hopefully I can be there to finish off the opportunities we've been creating," said the winger, one of the most electrifying talents to come out of New Zealand in recent years.

"With the double-header I've got extra incentive because I need to be ready to take my chances when Ricki calls on me."

Phoenix have named an unchanged squad for Wednesday's match, though first-choice goalkeeper Mark Paston will undergo a fitness test after being replaced early in the match against Sydney FC following a collision with teammate Ben Sigmund.