The chance to reverse last year's Chatham Cup loss to Central United will be incentive enough for East Coast Bays at Bay City Park this afternoon.
Central beat Bays 2-0 in the quarter-finals last season, and will chase a repeat today in a clash which comes a roundearlier.
It is a classic top-of-the-table clash - Central lead Bays by five points at the top of the Northern Premier League.
Central have lost only once this season, but Bays have lost four of their 14 league outings.
Home advantage is in East Coast Bays' favour, but Central have the edge in experience having played in five finals and winning three. Bays have never reached such giddy heights.
Eastern Suburbs, beaten in a penalty shootout by Wellington's Western Suburbs in last season's final, have a tricky home tie with Metro.
In second place in the first division, Metro have lost only once this season building their game on a sound defensive effort, having conceded only 11 goals in 12 league outings.
The best defensive record in the whole 33-team northern league belongs to second division Manurewa, with 10.
The two-time former cup-winner will be looking for more of the same when they travel to play the six-time winners North Shore United tomorrow.
Shore have struggled this season winning only four of 14 premier league games and scoring just 18 goals while conceding more than two a match.
Former cup-winners Miramar Rangers and Napier City Rovers meet at Centennial Park in the feature central region clash, and defending champions Western Suburbs are away to Wairarapa in the other game.
Women's Knockout Cup-holders Lynn Avon face a testing trip to Madills Farm to play Eastern Suburbs in the game of the round tomorrow, and Western Springs, last year's losing finalist, are away to non-league Bay Olympic.
Seatoun, a semifinalist last season, are away to Miramar in the central region eye-catcher.
