Wellington Phoenix defender Tony Lochhead is confident he can recover from a niggling groin injury in time for the start of the upcoming A-League season.

The 28-year old left-back returned to Wellington with the problem which he sustained on duty for the New Zealand national team at the World Cup but believes it will be fine once the Phoenix's opening league clash on August 13 against Gold Coast United comes around.

"At the moment the top priority is just to get back out on the field. It's going well at the moment and my aim is definitely to be playing in that first game," he said.

"[The groin] is starting to feel pretty good. I was back out there doing a bit of running and sprinting today.

"I don't know if I'll be involved in the game on Friday but hopefully next week I'll be back out training. The progress is pretty good so I'm feeling positive about it."

Lochhead said although the injury is not ideal, it has given him the chance to freshen up before the longest A-League season since the league's inception in 2005.

"Coming from the World Cup and then having to sit on the sidelines for the last couple of weeks it is a bit tough," he added.

"But it's sort of a blessing in disguise because it's given me a bit of a break and a refresh before the season starts again."