Wellington coach Giancarlo Italiano is determined not to let the biggest week in the Phoenix's history get to his players as he rallies the city to turn out for the occasion.
The Phoenix head into the second leg of their A-League Men semi-final against Melbourne Victory high on confidence after snagging a 0-0 draw at AAMI Park on Sunday.
They should draw a bumper crowd to Sky Stadium on Saturday for their first ever home semi-final as they chase a debut grand final appearance against either Central Coast Mariners or Sydney FC.
"The crowd is actually going to be the decisive factor in the game" he said.
"If we can get close to 25,000, anything above 25,000 is going to give us an advantage, especially when those moments get tough.
"I want everyone to come out to the game.
"Even if you (only) have a faint interest, the buzz around town and ... the feeling that we're giving our fans is something that may never come again.
"I mean, knock on wood, hopefully (it) happens every season. But it hasn't happened yet."
Italiano said his side's preparation for the game would be "business as usual".
"I'm a firm believer that being in control of what you can control is the most important thing. It's what got us here," he said.
"... Everyone feels that pressure. If I harp on about the pressure, it may exacerbate what they're feeling.
"I don't want that. I just want them to embrace it. Be comfortable with being uncomfortable, and hopefully they gain the experience so they can just push through that last part."
Italiano hopes his charges can stamp their influence on the scoreboard early on Saturday.
"The first goal is going to really dictate the ... outcome of the game," he said.
"If we concede, we have to go for it. We have to really push for that. But they'll be the same."
Italiano's first season at the helm has exceeded all expectations - and he insists Wellington are determined to "create a legacy" in the New Zealand capital.
"The buzz I want this week ... I want to continue on that. I want to give (the fans) hope," he said.
"It's more of a celebration, about a whole season, coming into the last game. If we're good enough to make the final we'll make it.
"And if we're not, it'll still be a celebration. We've still broken a lot of records this year.
"Our players should be proud, our fans should be proud, the club should be proud. I'm actually pumped for this game."
