KEY POINTS:
The Christmas break and the impending transfer window add spice to this weekend's round eight - the first matches in the second half of the shortened season - a replay of November's first round.
There is unlikely to be a great deal of business when the transfer window
opens on Monday. Other than a minor change or two, coaches are likely to simply confirm their squads.
The New Year pressure is on surprise pace-setters Waikato FC, who have overcome any pre-season uncertainties to help themselves to a two-point lead after losing their first two matches.
One of those losses was against Sunday's opponent, Hawkes Bay United, who won 2-1 at Park Island. Waikato coach Dave Edmondson knows a reversal of that result will keep them leading the New Zealand Championship minor premiership race in the chase for a guaranteed spot in next season's O-League.
But predicting results is no easy task, given the close nature of this season's league with just four points between Waikato at the top and Team Wellington in seventh.
For the crop of young players back from the debacle in Tahiti where the under-20 side dropped the ball badly in finishing third in an Oceania championship they should have won, the second half of the NZFC season gives them some chance of redemption.
For some, it may well put their future NZFC involvement under the microscope.
No team is under more pressure than Auckland City.
With player power apparently behind the demise of former coach Colin Tuaa, there is a real need for the players to step up and produce for caretaker coach Paul Posa.
The trip to Dunedin should pose few problems but given their surprise loss to Canterbury in the pre-Christmas round, nothing is certain for the City side, who are a point, and two games, behind championship favourites Waitakere.
The Aucklanders have not lost in Dunedin and have not conceded in their last four against Otago United. They will want more of the same.
Waitakere, two goals down before they could blink, came from behind to beat Team Wellington 4-2 in the opening round at Newtown Park. They will need to be more positive at Trusts Stadium against the visitors, who have sharpshooter Luis Corrales, joint leader (with five) in the golden boot, to lead the charge.
Today's opening match hands YoungHeart Manawatu, at home to Canterbury United, the opportunity to return to the winning form they showed early on and before the wheels fell off.
Manawatu won three straight at the start of the season but have since lost the same number in a row to fall three points out of the lead.