Midfielder Aaron Spierling is a doubtful starter for Wairarapa United's Central League football match with Wellington United in Wellington on Saturday.
An outstanding effort when he came off the bench in the 3-0 win over Tawa at Carterton last weekend pointed to Spierling being promoted to the starting line-up buta hamstring worry may relegate him to the position of spectator.
That's a frustration for Wairarapa United coach Phil Keinzley who was rapt with the intensity Spierling added to the midfield in the Tawa match which was locked at 0-0 after a lacklustre first half.
"I thought Spierling provided more spark than anyone else," Keinzley said. "His work rate was just what we needed, he was hungry for the ball and set the example for others to follow."
Spierling's fate will probably decide whether or not Keinzley sticks with the experienced duo of Adam Cowan and Pita Rabo up front. They were partnered there in the second half of the Tawa game and were a constant thorn in the side of the opposition defence, Cowan through his mix of speed and clever ball skills and Rabo through his elevation and ability to make room for himself.
The versatility of Cowan and Rabo means one of them will probably slot into midfield should Spierling be ruled out and Paul Ryder, who had a quiet first half against Tawa, will start at striker.
Last Saturday's match was the debut appearance of Fijian international Esava Naqeleca for Wairarapa United and with Waisake Sabatu and Miroslav Tvaroh made a favourable impression with his solid defence.
Naqeleca is also capable of filling a midfield slot and Keinzley said he would be experimenting with him there at training this week. "It's another option we need to look at. The more we have, the better."
The form book says Wairarapa United should have the edge on Wellington United but Keinzley is aware of the latter's impressive showings.
"It's just another of those games where if we play well, we will very likely get the result we want but if we don't, we will just as likely be in trouble," he said. "They certainly won't roll over for us, we know that."
