The Wellington Phoenix men need their leaders to step up tonight as they strive to overcome a rare two-game losing slump in football's A-League

The twin 2-1 defeats to Auckland FC and Macarthur were the first such back-to-back reverses for Giancarlo Italiano.

The second-season coach insists his captain Alex Rufer is leading the fightback, heading into tonight's away clash with the Western Sydney Wanderers.

Italiano says Rufer's their most important player and sets the standards at both ends of the field.



Kickoff's at 7pm.