SOCCER - Burgess backing Waikato

Former North Force captain Scott Burgess will watch his new side, Waikato FC, play their opening match of the NZFC season against Waitakere City, from the stands tomorrow .
Burgess, in his first season at the club, was one of five players in the squad, who didn't make the final team but will make the trip to Mount Maunganui's Links Ave ground to watch the match anyway.
While Burgess admitted Waikato wasn't "quite home yet", he is beginning to fit into the Waikato FC set-up and is looking forward to getting on to the team sheet in the weeks to come.
Waikato certainly aren't one of the competition favourites - the TAB has them at 20-1 to win the title - with only Manawatu at longer odds, but the former FC Whangarei striker believes the side is developing well under new coach Dave Edmondson.
"I've been training with the squad for almost three months now and we're shaping ourselves into a pretty good team and I think we'll do quite well," Burgess said.
Like their first season in the competition in 2004/5, Waikato is likely to be regarded as a giant-killer in the competition.
"I think we'll upset a few teams but I'd like to see us push on from there - we're planning to play 23 games and that will take us into the final," he said.
The new coach has handed debuts to former Derby County goalkeeper Dan Robinson and defender Matt Cunneen, who signed from Auckland City over winter.
Another new signing, Solomon Islands international Stanley Waita, will get his first run in the side.
Burgess said that despite losing to Auckland in a pre-season match he didn't rate their chances of retaining their title this season.
The TAB has once again given Auckland the ``favourites'' tag, with neighbours Waitakere City, despite their sixth place last year, named as the second favourites.
Waitakere United are favoured to start with an away win at Links Avenue this weekend after signing former All Whites striker Allan Pearce, Chilean Pedro Garcias and Manawatu's Commins Menapi in the off season.
Canterbury have lost a few of their top players, including All Whites Andy Barron and James Bannatyne, but they still are rated as the third favourites by the TAB.
Burgess rates them more highly.
"You've got to back yourself of course, but I reckon Canterbury look strong on paper to win the competition and a lot of guys in the team rate them," he said.
Burgess said that such is the quality of play in league that a number of teams could easily wear the "favourites" mantle.
Unfortunately for Manawatu, the team is likely to struggle the most.
Despite Manawatu's success in the competition since its inception, the club seems in trouble this season after their future in the competition became uncertain, when NZFC refused to renew their competition licence recently.
Manawatu, who received a second blow by losing goal-scoring machine Menapi to Waitakere, have been forced to re-apply but six other consortiums, including one from Northland-North Harbour, are trying to win the vacant 2007/08 to 2009/10 licence which will be decided by the end of November.
In the other matches this weekend, Canterbury take on Hawkes Bay at home, while Auckland host Otago and Wellington host Manawatu.
Burgess, who continues to work for Plumbing World while playing in the mainly amateur competition, is still planning to play for North Force next year.