Wairarapa United could move star striker Seule Soromon back into the midfield for their crunch Central League football match with Miramar Rangers at Howard Booth Park, Carterton, on Saturday.
Coach Phil Keinzley admits any move to leave Englishman Paul Ryder as the sole player up front would lessen Wairarapa United'ssting on attack, while at the same time giving them more depth on defence.
"It's got its good points and its bad points, but it is definitely something we are thinking about," Keinzley said yesterday. "We know how strong they [Miramar Rangers] are when they are allowed room to move and having greater numbers in midfield could help nullify that."
Keinzley is also aware Miramar Rangers will be desperate to show something of the form that won them the Central League title last year, and having three of that side - Phil Imray, Tim Schaeffers and Darren Cheriton - now wearing the Wairarapa United colours provides an extra incentive for them to fire on all cylinders.
"They will be a bit miffed about what happened during the off season and that will make them even more determined to pull this one off. They won't be holding anything back," he said.
Whatever the playing format used by his side, Keinzley intends to have his strongest possible line-up start Saturday's game. Imray will be in goal with Waisake Sabatu, Schaeffers, Nathan Cooksley and James Oxtoby making up the defence, Dale Higham, Cheriton, Pita Rabo and Adam Cowan in midfield, and Soromon either there or up front with Ryder.
Queen's Birthday Monday will see Wairarapa United begin their defence of the Chatham Cup when they travel to New Plymouth to take on Taranaki league side Rangers.
All things being equal, Keinzley intends to start with the same line-up as for the Miramar match expect for Schaeffers, who is unavailable and will be replaced by either Pablo Moya or Caril Shailer.
On paper, Wairarapa United should be a class above Rangers but Keinzley is worried the long car trip there on the morning of the game could take a physical toll on his players and isn't about to predict anything other than a battle royal.
"We don't know anything about Rangers but, when you have a team playing at home against the cup holders, you know they will lift their game to new levels. They will be relishing the chance to take us on," he said. "It won't be easy pickings."
