CAUSE TO CELEBRATE: Manny Muscat revealed he is staying with the Wellington Phoenix not long after scoring their decisive goal against the Newcastle Jets.

Even the most optimistic Wellington Phoenix fan couldn't have scripted it better.

Friday night's historic 1-0 win over the Newcastle Jets – the first time Wellington have won consecutive away games – turned into a dream weekend when unlikely goalscoring hero Manny Muscat confirmed a new two-year deal with the club on Saturday morning before the progress of the third-placed Phoenix's closest rivals was limited as Brisbane Roar and Melbourne Heart played out a 1-1 draw on Saturday night.

With nine games remaining the Phoenix are just two points behind second-placed defending champions Brisbane and one point clear of fourth-placed Heart.

The Phoenix host the Heart at Westpac Stadium on Sunday and have a tricky fixture list as they attempt to secure a top-four finish and at least one home final.

Ricki Herbert's men also play Adelaide United (away), Brisbane (home), runaway leaders Central Coast Mariners (away), Sydney FC (away), Gold Coast United (home), Heart (away) and Melbourne Victory (away) before closing the season at home to the Mariners.

Gold Coast is the only "easy" game on paper but regardless of the opponent, the Phoenix are brimming with self-belief after Muscat scored the winner in his 85th game before putting pen to paper with the club that plucked him from Victorian state team, Green Gully.

The Maltese international turned down the Heart and the Victory to stay in Wellington.

"There were a lot of factors to consider, especially with opportunities to go back to Melbourne," Muscat said.

"My family are there and I have business commitments as well, so it was a tough decision, but in the end I thought, `if you are enjoying your football as I am, why go elsewhere?'

"The only change I'd like to see is me return to the defensive midfield role I prefer. I've been happy to fill in at right back but hope to convince Ricki I should be in midfield where I feel more involved in the game."

The Phoenix now have 10 players on the books for next season with Muscat joining Andrew Durante, Paul Ifill, Ben Sigmund, Tony Lochhead, Tim Brown, Leo Bertos, Lucas Pantelis, Jimmy Downey and Mirjan Pavlovic.

That leaves 11 players coming off contract with Dani Sanchez, Mark Paston and Vince Lia likely to be next on the retention hit-list.

Meanwhile, Brisbane striker Besart Berisha's hellish week has taken its emotional toll on the Albanian international, Roar coach Ange Postecoglou says.

Postecoglou has lamented the public outcry and penalty after Berisha sparked a post-match melee last week which earned him the ire of officials.

Berisha hit back in style after his difficult week, saving his side with a second half equaliser in the 1-1 draw with the Heart.

But he played the match with a one-game ban hanging over his head after challenging Sydney defender Pascal Bosschaart to a post-match fight in the tunnel the previous weekend.

Postecoglou admitted the ban threat and the publicity had affected Berisha, who missed a penalty during the Heart game before grabbing the equaliser.

"These guys are human beings," Postecoglou said.

"We just love hanging people. You can't make a mistake in today's society, people want their flesh and he's had a tough week.

"He was pretty desperate to score and I think the way he took the penalty, he was taking out his frustrations."