Wellington Phoenix coach Giancarlo Italiano has urged his A-League Men high-flyers to keep their foot on the throat when they welcome cellar-dwellers Western United.
John Aloisi's side cross the Tasman hunting a first away triumph of the campaign as they look to avoid the club's maiden wooden spoon.
The Nix were tipped by many to win that booby prize, but instead they find themselves top of the pile.
Inspired campaigns by many players, including Kosta Barbarouses up front and Alex Paulsen in goal, have put Wellington in the frame for the first piece of silverware in the club's 17-year history.
Italiano hopes they will only get better after the signing of Costa Rican international Youstin Salas, who has arrived in the Kiwi capital with yellow-dyed hair.
"He's embraced it from day one ... it just shows his enthusiasm," Italiano said, calling him a "bulldog".
"He wants to be a big part of this team and wants to contribute, and he feels as though he has a lot to give."
Salas, who featured at the 2022 World Cup, has been loaned to Wellington by parent club Saprissa for this season with a view to be on-sold into Asia - rather than stay on.
"(The Costa Rican league) is not considered a window league," Italiano said.
"They thought that if he comes to Australia, potentially that opens up markets.
"The best-case scenarios, we can win the competition and he goes where he needs to go and he makes the money that he wants and Saprissa makes the money they want. That'd be the ideal."
Salas and his yellow hair are likely to be in the Sky Stadium stands for Western's visit on Saturday as Italiano warms him into the new conditions.
Wellington missed a chance to stretch their lead at the top against second-placed Central Coast after a 0-0 draw on Tuesday.
Last-placed Western United offer a different challenge - and one that Italiano is wary of, naming Daniel Penha and Noah Botic as dangerous.
"I don't like the idea of top versus bottom. The 90 minutes doesn't lie. You can't win the game before playing," he said.
"They're struggling away from home as well, (so) we'll take the game to them."
Mo Al-Taay and Nicholas Pennington return after missing Tuesday's match, while Sam Sutton and Oskar Zawada remain out, with a question mark over the fitness of Ben Old.
