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Adelaide looking to continue dominance over Wellington

Adelaide United FC heads into its match with the Wellington Phoenix tomorrow night (Friday 4 September 2009) at Westpac Stadium in the knowledge that it is undefeated against the New Zealand club in the Hyundai A-League, but also wary that the Phoenix are a team on the rise.

With four wins and two draws against Wellington, the Round 5 encounter provides The Reds with a great chance to get back on the winner's list and keep in touch with the league's early season frontrunners.

United Coach Aurelio Vidmar does not delve a lot into past results but admits his team's record against the Phoenix should give his players plenty of confidence heading into the match, and that they should hold no fears of a Wellington side that is running hot at home and aiming to make it a run of eight games unbeaten at Westpac Stadium.

"We've had some pretty positive results there…so hopefully that can continue," Vidmar said.

"They (Wellington) are pretty strong at home. They probably weren't as aggressive playing away from home last week…and with every game at home you want to try and get on the front foot and I don't see that being any different (with the Phoenix on Friday)."

With a host of players, including Captain Travis Dodd, still unavailable through injury and defender Robert Cornthwaite serving his first of a two match suspension, Vidmar has been forced to take young brigade Francesco Monterosso, Joe Costa and latest signing Mathew Leckie in a squad of 17.

But despite being undermanned, Vidmar said there is an extremely positive feeling amongst his charges that they can achieve a victory.

"We're still going out there with the same mentality that we've had since day dot, which is to try and go out there and win," Vidmar said.

"We've had a really good week on the training track…and the mood has been very good, so that's important, and we just probably need that little bit of luck to get another win on the board and then move forward from there."

The Reds will have a final training session this afternoon before Vidmar decides on the final make up of his squad.

If United did not already have enough incentive to take the points across the Tasman, the match with will also be The Reds' 100th in the Hyundai A-League, Adelaide United becoming the first club to achieve the milestone.

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