Fijian international Valerio Nawatu could make his debut for Trust House Wairarapa United in their central league and Chatham Cup double-header against Lower Hutt City at Bell Park, Lower Hutt over Queen's Birthday weekend.
The central league fixture is scheduled for tomorrow and the Chatham Cup fixture on Monday.
Nawatu's first appearance
for Wairarapa United has been delayed because of contract hassles with his Fiji-based Lautoka club.
Wairarapa United coach Phil Keinzley was hopeful of hearing some good news on that front today.
If Nawatu is available it is likely he will come off the bench in tomorrow's match with his form there deciding whether he could get a start two days later.
Keinzley sees Nawatu, who is still working up to full fitness after an ankle injury, being played either as a striker or on the flanks of the midfield.
"He'd have to be one of the quickest players in the league and he's got very good distribution skills too, he's going to be a real asset to us."
The Wairarapa United coach has stressed the importance of achieving two wins for his team as a loss in the Chatham Cup match will mean elimination from that competition. Defeat in the central league game could make it near impossible to overhaul current leaders Miramar Rangers.
Presently Wairarapa United trail them by three points and while Keinzley sees reducing that gap as achievable he says falling behind by six points would probably leave them chasing second place at best.
"Both games are pivotal to our season, it's basically a case of two wins or else," Keinzley said.
That Lower Hutt City will provide formidable opposition is practically guaranteed.
They have beaten Wairarapa United their last two times and have amassed an excellent record at home.
Interestingly two ex-Wairarapa United players in George Barbarouses and Andrew Abba are now the mainstays of their attack, with Barbarouses clearly man of the match when LHC secured a 2-1 victory at Masterton's park oval in April.
Keinzley is keen for Wairarapa United to play a free-flowing style of football and he sees LHC adopting similar tactics.
"I guess it will come down to who makes the most of their scoring chances and, to be honest, that's been a bugbear for us in recent games," he said. "We've struggled to turn them into goals and it's vital that doesn't happen again this weekend."
