Wellington Phoenix coach Ricki Herbert insisted his side will not be overawed by the occasion when they travel to Sydney FC with a place in the A-League Grand Final at stake.

Phoenix face the Sky Blues in the preliminary final at Sydney Football Stadium tomorrow night with a trip to Melbourne Victory awaiting the winners.

The New Zealand side, who have defender Jon McKain back from suspension, are enjoying their best-ever campaign, although they have lost three times to Sydney this season, scoring just one goal in the process. But Herbert believes the confidence generated from a strong finish to the season can carry them through the clash following last week`s 3-1 extra time win over Newcastle Jets.

"Sydney is not really a daunting place to go, if I'm honest. I think they are a great supportive crowd, but it won't be intimidating or anything," he said.

"It's not competition points on the line any more it's just a football match. Somebody has to be out of it at the end of the day. I think that might just stand us in good stead. The players are really hungry, they want to turn around those three losses. I think it's a little bit more in our court than theirs.

"To progress this far has probably superseded a lot of people's expectations. We're playing as well as anybody, our form's been better than anybody in the league."

Striker Paul Ifil is also set to play despite damaging a knee ligament in the play-off win over Jets. Defender Shannon Cole could return from injury for Sydney, who saw an extra-time goal from Archie Thompson at the SFS last Sunday condemn them to a 4-3 aggregate defeat to Melbourne in the major semi-final. Striker Jon Aloisi stressed the three previous victories over Wellington will count for nothing.

"We're prepared for it, they are different, they play a different system, a 4-3-3 now," he said. "It's going to be a difficult game. The three that we've played against them, that's over and done with. They've got experience at the back and they've got a good side all over the pitch.

"They say they're under no pressure but the pressure is making the Grand Final. They've had a top year, the best season they've had in the A-League but as a player, you want to play in the final so there's pressure for both sides."