Long trek north for Rotorua United

Rotorua United's winning women's team. Photo / Stephen Parker

''We are going there to win first and foremost, that's why you play the game, but on the other side of the coin, we are going there not to lose.''

It is, of course, one of the great footballing cliches, but that doesn't mean it isn't true.

Rotorua United's WaiBOP women's premiership winning team make the long trek to Whangarei today for the first leg of a two-game playoff against Northland FC tomorrow.

The victor over the two legs will secure a place in next season's Northern League premier women's competition and going there not to lose is the philosophy coach Ron Cane wants his side to adopt in Whangarei.

Apart from injured Danni McKenzie and Rosie Harding (both knee) and Maddi Ollington who is overseas, Cane has a full complement of players.

''I will be calling on the young players to step up,'' he said.

The absentees have forced a reshuffle but, crucially, not at the back.

''Defensively I've got what we've had all year. The defence and the goalkeeper have been solid. But we've had to change the midfield around a bit with losing Harding and Ollington and McKenzie, because they were our midfield.''

Cane has slotted skipper Kim Maguire in to the midfield from her striking role.

''But we've got four top class strikers who can score and we've got the two youngsters out on the wings. Kieran Davidson is a very good ball player who reads the game very well and Ella Fookes closes people down and hassles and hassles and can keep going for the full 90 minutes.''

Cane says he will be telling his team to concentrate on their own game.

''Because we are playing away, it's important to be patient in the beginning and we can see how they set things up and then, after about the first 10-15 minutes, if I need to give any instruction, that's what I'll do.

''We look to defend first, but most of our game this year has been based on quick counter attacking and we do that quite well, but I think (Northland) also do that because I see from their reports they have scored 72 goals. So we could be cancelling each other out.''

Tomorrow's game kicks off at noon.

Lotto NRFL playoff series fixtures
Tomorrow: Northland Football Club v Rotorua United, Whangarei.
Sunday 25 September: Rotorua United v Northland Football Club, Neil Hunt Park, Rotorua.