Football
Wairarapa United coach Phil Keinzley has had plenty to mull over since his team's "embarrassing" 5-1 loss to Lower Hutt last Saturday.
Going into round five of the 18-match season at 2pm this Sunday against Western Suburbs at Howard Booth Park, Keinzley will be wondering just how many of his walking wounded will be available for the fixture.
Influential midfielder George Jermy and centreback Esava Naqeleca are both nursing knee injuries while pacy wide man Dale Higham sustained a hamstring injury during training this week. Keinzley would like to see all three players on deck but will wait until the last minute before making decisions.
With the possible omissions and a need to stiffen the midfield defence or the back four in the light of last week's result, Keinzley will almost certainly include Miroslav Travoh in his starting line-up. Travoh is a seasoned campaigner for United with a well-documented reputation for his determined tackling to break up opposition attacks, cool nerve under pressure and his ability to initiate moves through accurate passing.
The possible injury toll may also see a return to duty for Chilean Jorge De La Torre. Defender De La Torre has yet to show his full potential for United this season and this fixture may well give him the chance to do so. Meantime the other Chilean in the ranks, Jonatan Almendra, will need to demonstrate to his coach that he can last the full distance and not force Keinzley in to making unwanted substitutions due to fitness issues. On the credit side, Almendra has chipped in with valuable goals and as such has taken some of the pressure off striker Seule Soromon to deliver the goods. Soromon for his part is finding his goal-scoring touch again, to the relief of his coach and team-mates.
"We're in a bit of a predicament and need to grind our way out of it," Keinzley said of the overall situation. "We're just taking it one fixture at a time at the moment and looking to gain some momentum to our season."
United will be up against it on Sunday and will do well to come away from the game with the spoils. Western Suburbs are an in-form side who have yet to lose this season and who rank among the front-runners in the Central League table, lying in third spot after a 4-3 away win against Napier City Rovers last weekend.
"They're getting stronger every game and are on a high," Keinzley said. "They've recruited well since last season and it's going to be a tough game for sure."
The coach urged the crowd to be vocal and get in behind his players to give them a lift.
"If they can become our 12th man then it'll be a real help," he said.
Meanwhile in Capital 2, Douglas Villa travel to Lower Hutt for what is a vital game for the Masterton club. Villa lie second in the table while Lower Hutt lie third. Villa have strung their victories together over the last three outings and will be keen to continue that run of form.
"We're on a bit of a roll but we'll need to really front up for this one," coach Troy Burling said. "It's a big game for us for sure."
Villa go in to the game with a full squad with the exception of the suspended Nathan Cottle.
In Capital 3 Wairarapa United seconds, who have yet to lose, travel over the hill to tackle Inglorious White Socks who have yet to win. United top their table, albeit on goal difference from Victoria University, and will want to continue to press home their position against lowly opposition who have managed two draws and found scoring difficult. Anything other than a United victory would be a surprise.
In the other game in Capital 3 White Swan Greytown take on Gardner Electrical Masterton in Greytown in a local derby. Greytown were comprehensively outplayed by Wairarapa United last Sunday and will want to retain a top-half standing in the league, while Masterton will be smarting from their inability to put away the lowly Marist side last Saturday.
Greytown's home advantage may be a telling factor.