Wellington Phoenix captain Alex Rufer has been ruled out of playing in the first Kiwi derby against Auckland FC this weekend after picking up a knee injury.
Rufer sustained the injury towards the end of the Perth Glory match last Saturday and could be seen receiving treatment from Phoenix medical staff on the pitch after the full-time whistle.
The match this weekend was set to be extra special for Rufer, as he would've made his 150th appearance in the A-League for the club.
English defender Scott Wootton will lead the Phoenix out onto Sky Stadium instead alongside Auckland FC captain Hiroki Sakai. The two captains for the first Kiwi derby will not be from New Zealand.
The Phoenix host Auckland FC for the first ever Kiwi derby at Sky Stadium on Saturday afternoon with kick-off at 5pm.
The 28-year-old has been with the Phoenix since 2014 and has scored five goals in his time at the club, all coming within the last two seasons.
Rufer has had knee problems in the past, suffering an ACL injury in 2022 which kept him sidelined for a lengthy period.
However, the Phoenix are set to receive some reinforcements this week with new signings Marco Rojas and Paulo Retre coming into the squad for the first time this season. Both were unavailable due to injury for the first two rounds of the competition.
The Phoenix will miss Rufer's leadership but has plenty of options for cover in central midfield. Retre could make his debut for the Nix in place of the injured skipper.
Mo Al-Taay and Fin Roa Conchie are also capable of holding down that position.
Rojas made his last appearance for the NIx in 2011 before venturing overseas, and could make his return to Sky Stadium in front of the Yellow Fever this weekend.
David Ball makes his return to the Nix squad after not being included for the Perth match, playing for the Phoenix reserves last weekend instead.
The Phoenix have also been busy during the week, signing Nathan Walker on a four-year deal.
Wellington Phoenix captain Alex Rufer has been ruled out of the first Kiwi derby (Source: 1News)
Walker was called upon by coach Giancarlo Italiano for the Phoenix's first match of the season against Western United. The 18-year-old didn't look out of place and has earned his first professional contract.
The Phoenix's new shot-stopper Josh Oluwayemi has also had a strong start to the season and has earned a contract extension until the end of the 2025-26 A-League season.
“Derbies, the media around certain games and the narratives are exactly what you get into football for and what gets you out of bed," said Oluwayemi.
“I’m absolutely buzzing, and I can’t wait to play in that game and to be part of the first ever professional New Zealand derby.
“It’s something big that I will remember for the rest of my life.”
Auckland FC head into the fixture with a mostly unchanged squad but will miss Kiwi striker Max Mata due to a calf issue.
The two Kiwi clubs sit top of the A-League ladder heading into the match, both remaining undefeated in the first two rounds.
The Phoenix are also set to unveil a new trophy for the derby on Saturday.
Wellington Phoenix squad:
1. Josh Oluwayemi (gk), 3. Corban Piper, 4. Scott Wootton, 5. Fin Roa Conchie, 6. Tim Payne, 7. Kosta Barbarouses, 8. Paulo Retre, 9. Hideki Ishige, 10. David Ball, 11. Stefan Colakovski, 12. Mo Al-Taay, 15. Isaac Hughes, 19. Sam Sutton, 21. Marco Rojas, 24. Oskar van Hattum, 25. Kazuki Nagasawa, 27. Matt Sheridan, 30. Alby Kelly-Heald (gk), 39. Jayden Smith, 41. Nathan Walker.
(Two to be omitted)
Ins: Paulo Retre (return from injury), David Ball (promoted), Marco Rojas (return from injury)
Outs: Alex Rufer (injury), Luke Brooke-Smith (omitted), Xuan Loke (omitted)
Auckland FC squad:
1. Michael Woud, 2. Hiroki Sakai, 3. Scott Galloway, 4. Nando Pijanker, 5. Tommy Smith, 6. Louis Verstraete, 7. Cameron Howieson, 8. Luis Toomey, 10. Guillermo May, 12. Alex Paulsen, 14. Liam Gillion, 15. Francis de Vries, 17. Callan Elliot, 18. Finn McKenlay, 21. Jesse Randall, 22. Jake Brimmer, 23. Dan Hall, 25. Neyder Moreno, 27. Logan Rogerson, 28. Luis Felipe Gallegos.
(Two to be omitted)
Ins: Luis Toomey
Outs: Max Mata
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