Despite winning 3-1 at Park Island against Tawa last weekend, the Danny Wilson-captained Rovers will need to start with a lot more purpose than they did in the first half "in one of those days".
In some respects, Kilkolly, in his debut season with the Blues, personifies the enthusiasm required to stay in the league race.
The 18-year-old lanky striker played for Lower Hutt City FC the previous winter and has a good feel for what previous Blues coach Grant Hastings used to call "Tupperware turf".
In fact, the former Hastings Boys' High School pupil scored a hat-trick of goals against his former team two rounds ago in the capital to help lift the O'Brien Challenge Shield.
"I've scored four goals in four games so it's pretty good," says Kilkolly who had scant time off the bench for Kinetic Electrical Hawke's Bay United in the ASB Premiership last summer.
The youth academy captain is enjoying his time in the winter league. "I've played every minute so far this season," says the Gearey Painting labourer.
Kilkolly reiterates the Miramar thumping is an aberration and doesn't reflect how well the Rovers played against a 10-men Rangers.
"Our squad should take points off most teams in the league," he says, mindful a victory will see them leapfrog "the Greeks" to second place.
Miramar have postponed their away match against Petone FC today because they have lost four players to the New Zealand Under-20 squad.
Olympic have lost two.
Standing at 1.83m, Kilkolly isn't shy to exploit his frame and pace to create havoc against opposition defenders. He prefers the ball at his feet in attack but is equally adept in getting behind the defensive line if required.
Kilkolly used to follow his older brother, Sean, to Akina Park, Hastings, when the latter played soccer for Maycenvale United Club.
"I was only 6 then so I used to watch him at the ground and it went from there," he says of Sean, 21, who doesn't play while focusing on a fourth-year IT communications degree at Victoria University.
Kilkolly attended Wellington College last year while playing for Brendan McIntyre's Lower Hutt.
His father, Tim Kilkolly, the Bay United team manager, was a rugby player but a serious injury in his 20s saw him gravitate towards the beautiful game.
"Dad ... got on with [ex-Bay United] Matt Chandler so he got into Hawke's Bay United."
Kilkolly, who played cricket, says at about the age of 13 he realised he had the potential to build a future in the code.
"I want to play for the country and make a living out of football."
Veteran Matt Hastings returns to the fold today after missing out because of a wedding last weekend. Midfielder Phil Dol faces the prospect of not playing for several weeks with a suspected ankle fracture in the only change from last round.
"It's a bit of a blow for us," Robertson says of Dol in light of how well Olympic have started their season.
Waitt says they didn't anticipate losing two players but the Mikey Halkias-captained Olympic have the depth to cope while the youngsters gain invaluable experience at a national level. The Greeks still play an in-your-face style of game.
"We're not changing our style but we're more sensible defensively because we lost the league last year by one goal," says former All White Waitt, adding they are more exciting than last year.
An ex-Rovers coach, he is aware of how competitive the Blues will be and relishes that challenge.
"At the end of the day Napier are a good team and I have had an association with them so I'm looking forward to the game."
In other matches today, Tawa AFC host Lower Hutt City at 2.30pm at Redwood Park while Palmerston North Marist face Western Suburbs at 2.45pm at Ashhurst Domain.
Wairarapa United welcome Upper Hutt City FC at 2pm tomorrow at Queen Elizabeth Park, Masterton. The following weekend, Taradale FC will host the Rovers in the region's opening round of the Chatham Cup (national knockout) match.
