VS GCU at Skilled Park 11:15pm Saturday

Michael Thwaite

MIRON Bleiberg is hopeful of welcoming back more of his injured warriors this weekend as his side looks to confirm that they are very much back in the title race by recording back-to-back wins when they face Wellington Phoenix at Skilled Park on Saturday evening.

Sunday�s comfortable 3-0 win against Melbourne Heart snapped Gold Coast�s uncharacteristic two-game losing streak, and with the treatment table getting a little lighter United will be full of confidence as they prepare for the visit of Ricki Herbet�s men.

Phoenix too will be buoyed with self belief after snatching a last minute winner and defeating second-placed Adelaide United in their last outing. The match will the first of three games in eight days for Gold Coast, making the news that influential defender Michael Thwaite and midfield dynamo Zenon Caravella will return, all the more heartening.

�Michael Thwaite and Zenon Caravella will definitely be back,� said Gold Coast Head Coach Miron Bleiberg.

�We are very hopeful that we will also have Glen Moss and Steve Pantelidis available, but we will have to wait and see how they are later in the week,� he added.

If Bleiberg�s hopes come true then only hamstring victim Joel Porter will prevent the United boss from having almost a full strength squad to choose from for what is certain to be a tricky match against the Phoenix.

�I say it all the time but every game is a difficult game in this league and we will need to be sharp to get the result we want from the Phoenix this Saturday,� Bleiberg said.

�They are coming off a win just like us so they will be feeling confident and positive. It�s a clash between two winning teams who both have a lot to play for.

�There is no compromise for us in respect to the result this week. We need the three points to continue our pursuit of the top two teams and nothing less will do.�

Looking back at Sunday�s confidence-boosting demolition of Melbourne Heart, Bleiberg was reserved in his praise for his side, despite the scoreboard suggesting it was an easy win.

�I thought we were clinical and efficient but we can still play a lot better than we did. Although we took hold of the game during the second half, in the first there was little to choose between the two teams.

�That game was all about getting the three points and snapping out of our bad run. From here we can concentrate on improving our performance and we will do that by working hard in training and getting our rhythm back.

�Once we have all our regular personnel back on board I�m sure people will see our performances lift in a natural way.