WaiBOP United players and supporters probably do not know whether to laugh or cry on their way to Rotorua this weekend.
The team find themselves in the strange position of struggling and rolling at once; unbeaten in three matches in a young season in which a clerical error has consignedthem to the bottom of the league.
Being stripped of the three points for their 3-0 win at Links Ave against Wanderers SC, due to fielding a player who was technically ineligible, has served to galvanise the squad, but the negative consequences of the penalty cannot be understated.
What should have been a 2-1-2 record with a goal difference of plus two has been rendered 1-1-3 with a for and against of minus four - enough to cripple a side's season should more misfortune happen their way.
As it is, the effect on the competition ladder is drastic. Without the setback, WaiBOP would be just two points adrift of third-placed Wellington Phoenix with a game in hand.
As it stands, they sit in last place, two points back of Southern United and Wanderers SC in equal seventh place, with games in hand against the majority of the field.
Coach Peter Smith knows the match with middle of the road Hawke's Bay (2-2-2) on Saturday at Rotorua International Stadium is crucial in keeping touch with the contenders.
"We played them in the preseason, which was decent, they've got some quality players," he said. "I expect them to play with good structure and be well organised."
Federico Marquez is in doubt with injury, with Smith to give his star striker every opportunity to make the match day squad.
"Definitely - he's in form, so we'll keep our fingers crossed and see how we go."
He acknowledged losing the points had significantly increased the level of difficulty in reaching the playoffs.
"We would have been sitting pretty with a game in hand, but the players have really pulled together and the last three or four weeks have been outstanding."
The next game against Southern United in Dunedin is three weeks away.
