Wairarapa United coach Phil Keinzley is hoping a stoush between Carterton AFC and the Carterton District Council won't have an adverse effect on his team's preparations for their Chatham Cup last-16 match with Wellington United at Newtown Park, Wellington, on Saturday.
The dispute between the club and the council has resultedin the grass not being mown at their home ground which has increased the chances of injury occurring as they prepare.
"We've already had a couple of players roll ankles and that's the last thing we need to happen now," Keinzley said. "Hopefully everything will be sorted out and we can train the way we want."
Keinzley expects to name the same starting line-up as initially took the field in the 2-1 central league win over Napier City Rovers last weekend
That would mean Matt Borren in goal, Waisake Sabatu, Scott Robson, Pablo Moya and Carl Shailer in defence, Dale Higham, Miroslav Tvaroh and Pita Rabo in midfield and Campbell Banks, Adam Cowan and Seule Soromon up front.
A highlight of Wairarapa United's win over the in-form NCR was the tightness of their defence and Keinzley says they will need to reproduce that effort this weekend if they are to negate the brilliance of Wellington United's Argentinian striker Emiliano Tade, who has been an absolute revelation by scoring goals galore this season.
"He [Tade] is one of those guys who can turn a game around very quickly with a piece or two of magic and we have to be constantly aware of the danger he poses," Keinzley said, adding that in player-coach Graham Little Wellington United had a second prolific scorer in their line-up.
"They will fancy their chances of breaking our defence down, no doubt about that."
On paper, Wairarapa United should start favourite as they play one tier above Wellington United at club level but Keinzley is having none of that.
He pointed out that Wellington United thumped one of the central league's leading teams Olympic in a second-round Cup match and are now the only Wellington-based team left in the national competition.
"Honestly you'd have to say that if they were playing central league they would be at least in the top five ... they are a very good all-round side and playing at home in front of their own fans won't hurt them either, will it?
"Obviously we believe we can win but it won't be easy, no way."
