Both teams came into the season with heightened expectations but both experienced slow starts, dropping points due to the absence of key players and the adjustment of new recruits.
The signs are there, though, that both are starting to hit their stride. Wellington - boosted in the offseason by the additions of Cole Peverley, James Musa and Cam Lindsay - would have come away with points from a trip to Waitakere if they had been half as clinical as their hosts.
And they have since turned that promise into back-to-back wins, taking care of easy-beats Southern United before coming from behind to edge Hawkes Bay.
Canterbury, meanwhile, are the only side to earn a result against Auckland City this season - in a match that coincided with the return of talisman Aaron Clapham - and they followed that with a 3-0 victory over Southern.
While they may be less blessed with talent than Auckland, each team will have designs on a semifinal spot and the possibility of unseating Waitakere from the second O-League berth.
Whether that is a realistic goal remains to be seen. Waitakere impressed early with three wins from three, but they were lacking a cutting edge in last weekend's 2-0 loss against Auckland.
It could be put down to derby-day jitters, or it could be indicative of a larger problem after losing Roy Krishna, Ryan de Vries and Allan Pearce in the offseason. Regardless of the reason, Auckland cruised to victory without having to extend themselves, something which may bode well for the rest of the competition.
The other match of the round sees the two re-branded sides - WaiBOP United and Southern - meet in Cambridge, where they will be chasing points in a bid to avoid falling further from the pace.
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ASB Premiership round five:
Saturday
WaiBOP United v Southern United
John Kerkhof Park, Cambridge
5pm
Sunday
Canterbury United v Team Wellington
ASB Football Park, Christchurch
2pm
Waitakere United v Hawkes Bay United
Fred Taylor Park, Whenuapai
4pm
