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Wellington playmaker Sarpreet Singh has been urged to overcome robust defenders and find his form in the A-League elimination final against Melbourne Victory.
Mark Rudan hopes playmaker Sarpreet Singh can unearth his missing touch when Wellington enter the A-League playoffs for the first time in four years.
Coming off a 5-0 loss to Perth in their final regular season match, the sixth-ranked Phoenix are glaring outsiders to topple champions Melbourne Victory at AAMI Park on Friday.
That's how Rudan likes it and he's promising there will be no shortage of commitment from a team who have upset most predictions this season and are now desperate to reach the last four for the first time since 2012.
He concedes parts of their game have fired during the run home but one that hasn't is the form of attacking midfielder Singh.
Rated one of the league's most exciting playmakers, the 20-year-old showed why with some scintillating displays during the middle stages of the season.
However, the young Kiwi has come under close watch and his influence has waned.
Statistics-wise, Singh has provided goals or assists in just two of his past 14 games.
"It's something we've spoken to him about and challenged him on," Rudan told AAP.
"He's had a fantastic season but when you play teams three times, they analyse you and find a way to stop you.
"To tell you just how important a player Sarpreet Singh is, he's finding it harder and harder to play his normal game."
Singh's difficulties have been largely hidden by the lethal goal-scoring touch of golden boot winner Roy Krishna, who scored three goals across the three drawn regular season games against Victory.
Those results were notable for Kevin Muscat's men needing to conjure an equaliser in the final quarter on each occasion.
"We've got a lot of confidence knowing we've played well against them," said Rudan, unperturbed he could be overseeing his last game in charge of the Kiwi club.
"I don't see any pressure on us. Throughout the season there were moments when people questioned us.
"No one's giving us a hope in hell to get past Victory and that's fine with us."
