By TERRY MADDAFORD
There will be no place for faint hearts in tomorrow's penultimate round of the national club soccer championship.
Seven teams still hold a mathematical hope of reaching the top four for this month's semifinals.
Four teams, including Miramar Rangers who have a foot in each direction, are still battling to avoid the dreaded last-place finish and with it a relegation battle.
Ansett national club championship leaders University/Mt Wellington, playing at home without Leigh Kenyon (injured) and Michael Buhagiar (suspended), should be too strong for lowly Christchurch City who have yet to win away this season.
In a replay of last Sunday's sometimes spiteful Chatham Cup quarter-final, Napier City Rovers are at home to Waitakere City.
Second-placed Napier, who have yet to cement their top-four spot, will be without Chris McIvor and Ricky Ravenhill, while Waitakere, holding on to fourth place, will not have key defender Ryan Dawkins.
Central, through to the cup semifinals, are again at Kiwitea St and can be rid of any relegation fears with a win over the erratic Manawatu United.
All White Josh Stick is back from injury for Central, who will be looking for a full 90-minute effort this time after their stop-start showing against Metro last Sunday.
Metro, out of the cup and league race, need two wins from their two outings - or at least four points - to have any chance of avoiding the relegation playoff.
Player-coach Sean Hird has called in the experienced Alex Metzger as a replacement for the ailing Luke Sarapu in Metro's lineup, while counterpart Stu Jacobs returns for Miramar along with Peter Satos, Adam Birch and Nic Longley after injury.
Dunedin Technical will be without playmaker John Gregg, who has returned to Europe after a lengthy spell in the south.
His influence will be sorely missed in Tech's home game against top-four aspirants Nelson, who have Commins Menapi and Francis Wasi back from their trials with NSL club Sydney United.
Soccer: Sides battle to reach top and avoid bottom
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