Unbeaten in their eight matches against Phoenix, the Reds will look to keep that record intact.

Although the finals are out of reach, Aurelio Vidmar believes there is still pressure on his side to win their remaining three games of the season on the run into the AFC Champions League.

"We still need to put in three strong performances in the remaining games of the A-League and that's what we've been planning to do," Vidmar said.

"We've had a pretty good week on the track, they're fresh, enthusiastic and that's what we expect, a strong performance.

"The pressure is always on because we don't want to go and fall over, we still need to try and put in a strong performance and I think we're capable of doing that."

The Reds will be without several experienced heads due to injury as they head to New Zealand's South Island.

Central defender Mark Rudan did not reappear after half time against Melbourne Victory due to a quad injury, while Alemao copped another heavy knock on the same hip he injured a month ago.

Paul Reid and Cassio are also still not over their respective injuries, these absences opening the door for a number of the Reds' young brigade.

With Lloyd Owusu in China on trial and Cristiano ruled out with a knee strain, Vidmar may turn to Mathew Leckie to lead the Reds' line, although he may spring a surprise after including 18 year-old Francesco Monterosso and Youth League forward Evan Kostopoulos in the travelling party.

Youth Team goalkeeper Nick Munro also gets his first taste of the senior squad as he comes in as the reserve for Eugene Galekovic after Mark Birighitti was forced out with a slight groin strain.

Despite promoting two players from the National Youth League side, Vidmar has no qualms in giving his young charges a chance to experience the A-League environment.

"Given the situation this week, our hands have been tied in terms of needing to bring in some young kids so we've done that, and that's fine, it's going to happen sometimes," Vidmar said.

"They're young, they're enthusiastic and I think it gives them a little bit of experience as well."

One experienced head Vidmar will look to lead by example against  Phoenix is defender Iain Fyfe.

Fyfe is cautious of a Wellington team coming off consecutive losses, away to Perth and Melbourne, and knows they will be out to regain some confidence at home as they attempt to reach the finals for the first time.

"They're very good at home and the games I've seen them play, they play an attractive brand of football (whereas) away from home they seem to be a different team. So going over although it's in Christchurch, it's still in New Zealand, it's still in front of their home fans and I'm sure they'll be very good and very switched on," Fyfe said.

"Coming off a couple of losses I think (coach) Ricki Herbert will get them back into the groove of things because they've still got that carrot there of making the top six and doing a bit of damage."

With Wellington currently occupying the final spot in the top six, a United victory could open up the finals race.

However more importantly for the Reds, Fyfe knows three points will go a long way to recapturing their confidence going into their opening AFC Champions League 2010 match on February 24 against the Pohang Steelers at Hindmarsh Stadium.

"We've got to use these games as a stepping stone for the ACL and to find form and to find that confidence," Fyfe added.

"Against Melbourne we played good football. Our attitude is spot on, there are certain elements of our game that are very good, we just have to put it all together and become a better team."