ENTERTAINERS: Co-owner Gareth Morgan says early feedback suggests there is a demand for the Wellington Phoenix to spread more home games around New Zealand.

Where has the Wellington Phoenix's goalscoring explosion come from?

Look no further than the club's Latino connection: Dani Sanchez and Daniel.

With the Spaniard and the Brazilian both in the starting lineup and firing, the Phoenix have scored nine goals in their last two home games to rocket up to fourth in the A-League.

Sanchez has been in and out of the squad with injury this season but even in limited gametime has proved to be an extremely savvy pick-up by Phoenix coach Ricki Herbert.

A product of Malaga, the 27-year-old bounced around Spain's lower leagues between 2003 and 2009 before a two-year stint in Scotland with Inverness Caledonian Thistle.

He was released by Inverness in June last year before unsuccessfully trialling with A-League rivals Gold Coast United, so his arrival in Wellington was initially met with some scepticism.

Sanchez's two-month trial was then hampered by a thigh injury but Herbert had seen enough promise to offer him a one-year deal on season eve.

With three goals in the last two home games – a 5-2 rout of the Newcastle Jets and a more testing 4-2 defeat of Sydney FC on Wednesday – Sanchez is repaying Herbert's faith and his price tag is on the rise as the Phoenix hope to keep him in Wellington beyond this season.

The attacking midfielder, currently playing more as a second striker alongside trusty Englishman Chris Greenacre, is also developing an instinctive understanding with Daniel, who set up three goals against Newcastle and helped himself from the penalty spot against Sydney. After that spot kick Daniel and Sanchez led the rest of the team on a samba dance and Herbert is hoping the merry run continues at home against Perth Glory on Sunday.

"Yeah it's a good point, they've done well together," Herbert said of his Latino duo.

"I think Dani's been good, I mean he's got that little X-factor and he's got that ability to put things away when games are tight and I think that's important for us to have. And Daniel's been great for us, I think he's probably better at home than he is away, you know, if you can draw that sort of synergy.

"That's not from any negativity but he's a great boy and I think he's a real crowd favourite. He really responds to that and delivers the goods so he's been good. We'll see how he goes [on Sunday], he hasn't played a lot of football, a little bit more [on Wednesday] obviously but hopefully he'll be fresh, ready and challenging for a slot."

Daniel is also off contract at the end of the season and, after a long stint as a specialist benchwarmer, the 32-year-old seems to have a new lease of life playing alongside Sanchez.

The left-footed midfielder is one of five survivors from the inaugural Phoenix season in 2007-08, along with Mark Paston, Tony Lochhead, Tim Brown and Vince Lia, and, already a New Zealand passport holder, becomes eligible to play for the All Whites next month.

That is a massive boost to his chances of the club re-signing him for next season because he won't chew up an import slot.

His wife and two children are settled in Wellington and Daniel himself certainly feels at home on Westpac Stadium, appointing himself the new penalty taker on Wednesday.

"Yeah look I thought Greenie might take it," Herbert said with a wry grin.

"He's normally been there so I guess you wait with as much confidence as you can, for somebody to put the ball in the back of the net."

Despite the Phoenix's hot home form, the TAB remains unconvinced of their title chances.

Wellington are equal seventh-favourites with ninth-placed Perth ($15), with last year's grand finalists Central Coast Mariners ($3.50) and Brisbane Roar ($3.75) at short odds.