Vince Lia has endured months of rehabilitation as he endeavours to return from a serious injury that has sidelined him since July.

The Wellington Phoenix midfielder tore his anterior cruciate ligament in last season's Pre-Season Cup but is almost ready to join in full training.

"The hard work is behind me and hopefully I stay fit," Lia told the Dominion Post.

"I'm not too sure about how it would be playing games at the moment it's still a little bit stiff if I do a couple of days in a row. It's now just a matter of me getting back into full training again, and in a couple of weeks it will be full games as well."