Taking on teams at either end of table

ON THE ROAD: Derby action from last year . . . (from left) Gisborne United skipper Kieran Venema, Thistle striker Jake Theron, and United flank player Malcolm Marfell. Theron makes a return to the Thistle squad tomorrow, when both sides play in Hawke’s Bay, Thistle against Havelock North Wanderers Reserves and United against Hastings Western Rangers. File picture by Paul Rickard

Both Gisborne teams in football’s Pacific Premiership will be in Hawke’s Bay tomorrow to face opponents at either end of the league table.

Gisborne Vehicle Testing Thistle have a top-of-the-table clash with Havelock North Wanderers Reserves at Guthrie Park at 1pm.

Two hours later at St Leonards Park, Heavy Equipment Services United play Hastings Western Rangers, who have lost all four of their league games this season.

Thistle coach Garrett Blair has four players returning to the squad for the Havelock game.

Andy Brott, Dave Ure, Jakub Jirasek and Jake Theron are back, while Fabio Senna is unable to travel.

With some players carrying slight knocks, Blair will wait until tomorrow to name starting line-up.

Thistle ran the Wanderers first team close in the first round of the Chatham Cup, losing 3-2.

“It should be a well-fought game,” Blair said.

“We know they’ve had a good start to the season. They’re a young team. But we’re ready for the challenge.”

In last season’s games against Wanderers, Thistle scored 17 goals and conceded four. They won 13-1 at home but found things tougher away, winning 4-3.

This season everything has been going to plan for Wanderers. They are undefeated in the Pacific Premiership, having won four and drawn one of their first five matches.

Second-placed Thistle have lost only once and have four wins from their first five matches.

Taradale are the only team to boast a 100 percent record but, having had a bye, they sit in third position with 12 points from four games.

Gisborne United player-coach Corey Adams has a full squad for Hastings.

Defender Kieran Higham is back, having served his suspension.

Western Rangers have conceded 21 goals in four matches and United, with striker Josh Adams in hot form, will look to improve their goal difference.

Coach Adams wants a clean sheet: “We need to get more points away from home.

“The message is clear: keep the ball and the goals will come.

“We know Rangers are a young, physical side, so sticking to the game plan is essential.”