Ngongotaha take on big boys

GIANT TASK: Ngongotaha will play one of Auckland's best teams away on Monday in the Chatham Cup. Ngongotaha player Van Ewert (front) playing last year. PHOTO/BEN FRASER

If Ngongotaha AFC's trip to Auckland is successful on Monday, they will return home as giant killers.

Ngongotaha will face off against Three Kings United - a team roughly three divisions higher than them - during their Chatham Cup second round match in Auckland on Monday.

Ngongotaha coach Shane Davis said they would be at full strength for the fixture and felt they had a chance to topple the Auckland heavyweights.

"We have come close to winning [these type of matches] before so we can't see why not," he said. "And being back at full strength there is a chance we can come away with a win."

He said they certainly had the fire power to cause Three Kings United a few problems.

"With the amount of talent we have up front we know we have the potential to get a goal or two, it is just a matter of defence after that."

Ngongotaha are currently second in the WaiBOP Premiership and have posted some good results of late.

"We have been building during the past two weeks and we've been playing some good football."

Three Kings United are currently mid-table in the Northern Premier League, the highest tier of club football in Auckland.

"The game is going to be a lot quicker than what we are used to so we will have to mark up a lot tighter," Davis said.

The Ngongotaha defence will have to contend with the likes of Three Kings United striker Allan Pearce, who is second top goal-scorer in the Northern Premier League this season.

Ngongotaha are no strangers to tough matches in the Chatham Cup and toppled the likes of Hibiscus Coast during their run deep into the cup competition last year.

The Chatham Cup is open to all senior football clubs and is the country's premier knockout competition. Ngongotaha have no game today in the WaiBOP Premiership and have turned their full attention to the Chatham Cup.