And that is despite the fact Perth has beaten Wellington in two out of two matches so far this season - once in Wellington, in the opening round, and the other time in Perth, in round seven. It was 2-1 each time.
Glory will take a one-point lead over second-placed Phoenix into the match at nib Stadium on Saturday night.
Asked if Wellington was the team that would finally tip Perth from its throne, Phoenix central defender Ben Sigmund replied: "We've got to be, you know. We're playing well, we're in good form, we believe we can do it and going to Perth on their home ground is not a bad way to do it, eh?"
Fellow central defender and Phoenix captain Andrew Durante added: "I'd like to think we're the team that can do it. We've got a strong belief now in our ability to go anywhere and win. We've done it in Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide this season and they're very difficult places to win.
"We've proven we can do it, so there's no reason we can't beat Perth and go top of the table."
Durante, 32, knows what it takes to win the A-League championship, having done it with Newcastle Jets in 2008.
"When I was at the Jets we had a very solid defence," Durante said. "I think it was the best defence in the league at the time and that's how you win championships.
"We've got a very good defensive record at Phoenix this season. It's the best in the league at the moment. We pride ourselves on that, especially after conceding so many goals last season.
"In Nathan Burns we've got a proven goal-scorer who can single-handedly win games and now with the inclusion of Joel Griffiths we've got another player who has been there and done that as well.
"It's all really positive stuff at the moment, but we're not getting carried away. We've got a huge game in Perth that's going to be difficult, with the time difference and the travel, but there is so much confidence in this team that we believe we can beat them."
Sigmund, at 34, knows that as a veteran player he won't get a lot more chances to push for a title and is focused on making this season count now Wellington has put itself in a position to contend.
"Everyone wants to win a championship in their career," he said. "I've done it as a young fellow at club level in New Zealand, but this is the ultimate for me. It's huge and as much as I'm preparing off the field for when I do retire, I'm wanting to get as much out of it as I can while I'm still playing.
"I'm contracted to Phoenix until the end of next season and I'm open-minded about playing beyond that. I feel so good, my body's enjoying it. I know it's going to come to an end eventually, but at the moment I don't want to put a date on it. There's no need.
"I'm moving around the pitch well. I think if I started slowing down or breaking down then I'd have to see, but at the moment it's all good and I'm happy."
Durante says his partnership with Sigmund works because of their understanding from having played together for so long and their brutal honesty with each other. Sensitivity doesn't get in the way of them sorting things out.
"Mate, 'Siggy' and I are constantly at each other's throats during games and it's because of the mutual respect we have for each other that we're able to have a go at each other and we accept that," he said.
"After the game we'll have a good laugh about what we've said to each other. I think you need that desire to win games and because you're going to do whatever it takes to win games you might be having to have a go at your mate sometimes.
"It's part of the game. We tend to play better when we're having a go at each other and it tends to work for us.
"We've played together for a long time. Ours would have to be the longest-standing central defensive partnership in the competition. We know each other's strengths and weaknesses and we cover each other really well and work hard on things at training. We're great mates as well.
"The understanding on the park is crucial, but it's not just us - the whole back four and Glen (Moss, the Phoenix goalkeeper) need to be on the same page and we work hard on making sure of that at training."
Sigmund adds: "The relationship Andrew and I have had over the last seven years has been great and I think it makes a difference to any team when you have those close relationships with the people you play next to.
"We've got each other's backs and it's just an honour to play next to him."
Wellington was in second spot entering the AFC Asian Cup break, but dropped to fourth with successive losses before rising again with back-to-back wins over Victory and Adelaide United.
"We probably wish that break never happened, but we've come back with two really good wins and the belief is there," Sigmund said.
"We're not getting too far ahead of ourselves. If we won this week it would only mean we'd be on top of the table going into the next round. We've set a goal to be in the top four going into the finals. It would be a bonus if we finished on top."
