Football Federation Australia have rejected a bid by the Wellington Phoenix to have their A-League match against Newcastle rescheduled.

Newcastle had agreed to the change.

The 26 March fixture in Wellington is scheduled for just 24 hours after New Zealand play Fiji in a World Cup qualifier in Lautoka.

It also falls just two days before the return leg in Wellington.

Many of the Phoenix's key players, including Kosta Barbarouses, Andrew Durante, Glen Moss and potentially Smeltz, will be forced to miss the Jets match.

Photo: Photosport

In-form winger Roy Krishna will also captain Fiji.

The Wellington Phoenix had sought to have the match played this weekend, as their next game is not until 19 March against Western Sydney Wanderers.

The Newcastle match takes on added significance for the Phoenix by the two sides' proximity on the A-League ladder, sitting just one point apart at the end of round 22.

A win against the Jets would give seventh-placed Wellington's finals aspirations a considerable boost, while defeat would almost certainly spell finals failure.