Wairarapa players Dane Lett and Jesse Workman are seen as vital cogs in the Capital squad as they aim for a second successive national men's hockey league title.
Capital are on top of the points table after wins over Canterbury (4-1) and Central (5-4) in Palmerston North last weekend but toughergames lie ahead when rounds three to seven are played at the National Hockey Stadium in Wellington, from Monday through to Friday next week.
The top four teams will then progress to the semifinals on Saturday, with the grand final on Sunday.
"It's always nice to have the noses in front but there's still a long way to go. We certainly can't taken anything for granted yet," Capital coach Sean Dancer said yesterday.
Junior Black Stick Lett played at left half against Canterbury and Central and Dancer was "very impressed" with the progress he made over the two games.
"He's normally a midfielder, so he took a little while to settle into the new role as he adjusted to the lines required there, but he got better and better, and that's what we were looking for."
Workman is part of a very strong strike force for Capital and a deliberate rotational process saw him take the field against Canterbury but not against Central.
"What we are looking for from Jesse is to make a positive impact when he comes on and he certainly did that against Canterbury. He threw himself around and played a good part in one of the goals we scored," Dancer said.
The Capital coach sees Auckland and Midlands as Capital's sternest opposition for the league title and rates North Harbour as a possible "dark horse".
