KEY POINTS:
Revenge, or at least the chance to avenge earlier results, will be uppermost in the minds of the Auckland City and Waitakere United players heading into round 11 New Zealand Football Championship action.
For City it is the chance to return to winning form against Team Wellington. After
winning the first nine encounters, City have been undone in the last two with Wellington winning both.
They followed last season's preliminary final 4-3 win at Kiwitea St with a 2-1 win at Newtown Park in round four this season.
After a scoreless first hour in that game, golden boot contender Luis Corrales put the home side ahead. Paul Urlovic equalised 17 minutes later, to be trumped when former City striker Bryan Little hit the winner.
Urlovic will not be around to contribute this afternoon, however, as he has made way for newcomer Adam Dickinson as coach Paul Posa searches for much-needed attacking pace and a presence in front of goal missing since Grant Young called it a day. Both teams are coming off last round losses. City went down 4-2 to Waitakere United, Team Wellington 5-2 to Hawkes Bay. In the only change to his line-up, Wellington coach Stu Jacobs has brought back former All White Andy Barron in place of lanky striker Peter Halstead.
Waitakere United head south tomorrow for their return with Canterbury United.
For Chris Milicich and his players it is the chance to take the points after dropping their first of the season to the southerners when held 1-1 at Trusts Stadium in late November.
Form suggests they should manage that with ease. Since the Christmas break Waitakere have dropped points just once - in that uninspiring 0-0 draw with Hawkes Bay - whereas Canterbury have picked up no points at all.
Milicich has Paul Seaman and Jake Butler back from suspension as they set out to continue an unbeaten run which started in early February last year after losing 3-2 to YoungHeart Manawatu after having goalkeeper Simon Eaddy sent off.
With three teams having just three games to play after this weekend's round and four with four, Waitakere, four points clear at the top and with five to play, can go close to slamming the door on their pursuers with a win at English Park.
City entertain other ideas but must win today to retain any realistic hope.