Wellington Phoenix coach Ricki Herbert admits he may tinker with his defensive formation ahead of Friday night's home game with North Queensland Fury.

The recent arrival of Australian international Jade North has forced Herbert to play New Zealand defender Ben Sigmund out of position at right-back but he feels there may be a solution by taking a three-man defence into the Westpac Stadium clash.

"I'd like to and I think it's got to be part of the armoury that we have this year," he told the Dominion Post.

"I think it just gives us a few more options further up the park. It could be a tight time frame going into Friday's game but I wouldn't dismiss it."

And Herbert also touched on the job Sigmund had done in his two matches at right-back since North arrived at the Phoenix.

"I've got a ton of admiration for Ben. Nothing fazes him, he's a real heart on the sleeve guy. He kind of represents what we want at the club and he certainly hasn't let us down," he added.

"He's very composed as a right back and he very rarely gets beaten and we haven't had too many problems on that side of the pitch."