Back In Training

Wellington Phoenix head to Auckland later this month for a double-header against the Junior All Whites and ASB Premiership champions Waitakere United.

On July 17 at North Harbour Stadium the Phoenix will assist the Junior All Whites warm-up for the FIFA under-20 World Cup four days prior to their departure for Colombia.

Three days later the Phoenix will take on Waitakere United at Henderson�s Trusts Stadium as they continue their build-up to the 2011-12 Hyundai A-League season.

Phoenix coach Ricki Herbert sees the trip as important not only to the club�s pre-season campaign but also as an opportunity to continue building its brand outside of Wellington.

�We are in the early part of our preparation and playing against the New Zealand under-20 team is a good opportunity for us to see how we are progressing,� Herbert said.

�It is also a great opportunity to take the Phoenix brand outside Wellington again because that is important for football.

�We are also playing in Dunedin next month and will be in Auckland again for an A-League game during the season.

�A full squad, plus some trialists, will travel to Auckland so people will get another opportunity to see the All Whites� World Cup players in action.

�I personally want to thank New Zealand Football for making it happen.�

Junior All Whites coach Chris Milicich is also pleased to have the opportunity to test his New Zealand and Australian-based players against quality opposition.

�The players will get a chance to play at an intense, quicker level of football than they are used to, which is crucial to our preparation,� Milicich said.

�It also gives us a hit out which will be at a level similar to those we will face at the World Cup with matches against Cameroon, Portugal and Uruguay.�

The Junior All Whites match will kick off at 2pm with tickets priced at $10 and children will gain free entry if wearing a football shirt.