Wellington Phoenix coach Mark Rudan says Roy Krishna has become a target of rough play early in A-League games and has called for referee protection.

Radio New Zealand reports Rudan is incensed by the mounting foul count against his star striker, who shook off the heavy-handed attention of the Western Sydney Wanderers to score two late goals in the 3-2 win on Tuesday.

Krishna now sits third on the goal-scorers chart this season with seven but Rudan fears the Fiji Football captain will become increasingly targeted by over-zealous defences.

Saturday’s opponents are the Central Coast Mariners, who fouled Krishna six times when they visited Wellington last month.