Wellington Phoenix captain Alex Rufer was a surprise inclusion in the starting line-up, as a new era of professional football in New Zealand kicked off tonight.
The Phoenix face off against new team Auckland FC at the 'Cake Tin' in the first-ever A-League Kiwi derby.
The countdown has been on for this moment ever since the Black Knights' A-League arrival was confirmed. The Phoenix cheekily had a plane fly over Mount Smart Stadium on Sunday with a banner reading: "NZ is yellow - see you next week!"
With two wins from two games in their debut season, the new side sit atop the table on six points, after picking up a 2-0 win against Brisbane Roar in the opening round and an injury-time winner to take a 1-0 win against Sydney FC last Sunday.
The Phoenix are right behind Auckland on four points, having picked up a 1-1 draw against Western United and a convincing 2-0 win over Perth Glory.
The top of the table Black Knights are set to take on last year's preliminary finalists at the capital's Sky Stadium from 5pm on Saturday. (Source: 1News)
Rufer was originally ruled out of the match, after suffering an aparent knee injury against Perth, but passed a last-minute fitness test to reclaim his spot in the starting line-up.
Fans of both sides were out in force across the capital this afternoon, with home side revellers confident of their team's success.
One Phoenix fan said it would be nice to have someone to chant against but that they would "absolutely drown them out".
Visitors from the big smoke are expected to make up the largest away section Sky Stadium has ever had.
"I watched the Phoenix last year and it was like watching paint dry, so I think we're going to win easy," said one Auckland fan.
In a special ceremony ahead of the match, the Wellington Phoenix were gifted two taonga by mana whenua.
Rangatira Liz Mellish from Te Āti Awa and Dame Naida Glavish from Ngāti Whātua have named the derby Mai te Raki ki te Tonga, meaning "From the North to the South" in te reo Māori.
The Phoenix were also presented with a treasured taonga, Ka Topa, symbolising the club's life force and spirit.
This piece, blessed on Petone Beach this morning, will be presented to the winner or the current holder (in the case of a draw) of Mai te Raki ki te Tonga matches in Te Whanganui-a-Tara, but the taonga will always remain in Wellington.
Auckland FC coach Steve Corica earlier told 1News he was anticipating a physical and fast game.
"I'm excited, I've looked forward to this game since the draw first came out.
"It's the first opportunity to play away from home as well, so we’re looking forward to it."
Rufer, who had previously been ruled out of the game after he sustained a knee injury in the match against the Perth Glory last week, told 1News the inaugural Kiwi derby would be a "big spectacle".
"A lot of excitement, but look, as long as we play our game and the boys don't get sidetracked and too much emotion, we'll be fine."
Wellington Phoenix
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
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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