The Wellington Phoenix are targeting a grand final appearance as they embark on their ninth, and potentially last, A-League season.
The club's license is yet to be extended beyond this season but coach Ernie Merrick is unconcerned.
"It's never been brought up amongst the players [and] certainly not amongst the coaches," Merrick says. "We are focused on playing and doing well this season."
The Phoenix are hoping to start their season on the right note against Newcastle on Sunday.
"[We are] very much aiming for the top four, and to go one better than last year," Merrick says. "It's all about consistency this year and that's how we've coached and that's how we've recruited."
But the recruitment has hardly been high-profile – Dutch import Jeffrey Sarpong is a direct replacement for the departed Nathan Burns, but other than that the squad has remained stable.
Captain Andrew Durante has defended the lack of changes in the line-up.
"The better teams tend to hold on and retain a lot of their good players," he says. "Melbourne Victory are a good example of that – a lot of their top players are still there, and it's the same with us."
Victory will again be the team to beat, but the Phoenix should make the play-offs. The long road to get there starts in just five days.
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