The New Zealanders are already guaranteed finals football for the first time in their history with efforts now focused on making sure of a fourth-placed finish.

Phoenix CEO Tony Pignata has revealed that the club's top six finish marks a major milestone in the club's journey, a journey they are confident will continue for many years to come despite ongoing uncertainty over their position due to AFC opposition.

"When Terry Serepisos, Ricki Herbert and myself sat down at the start, there was always a plan from day one," Pignata told au.fourfourtwo.com. "There was a three-year plan to make the finals and I'm delighted we've achieved that.

"Again, there were a lot of people writing us off this season and predicting that we'd finish last. Well, we're certainly not going to finish last. If there were those who didn't take notice of us, well I think people are certainly starting to sit up and take notice now."

Pignata points to success on and off the pitch as proof that Phoenix are anything but making up the numbers in the competition (something their detractors have thrown at them on occasions).

"Our crowds are up 33 per cent and look at the sensational crowd we had in Christchurch recently (more than 19,000). I really think we are starting to capture the imagination in New Zealand," he said. "I think we are ticking a lot of boxes.

"We have a huge game to finish (the regular season) against Central Coast Mariners on Friday and we're hoping for a big turnout, hopefully the 12,000 plus mark. If we can get that home final, we look to that game and then who knows from there?"

Wellington's most recent triumph triggered plenty of post-match debate but the focus was rather more on the wild west anology from Miron Bleiberg rather than the visitors' 1-0 triumph.

"Look, Miron adds some colour to the competition," said Pignata. "He came up to me and Ricki (Herbert) after the game, shook our hands and said we'd deserved to win.

"Some decisions go your way over a season and some don't, that's football."

Wellington have also had to work without the benefit of a youth team again this year and Pignata said efforts were continuing, although not yet resolved, to try and have a side in the New Zealand Football competition.

He added: "It's a massive thing for us, we want our young guys to be getting game time and at the moment they just don't have that opportunity."