Soccer: Big weekend looms for playoff hopefuls

Waitakere United skipper Jake Butler. Photo / Getty Images.

The fight to make the top-four playoffs in this year's ASB Premiership is the most tightly contested race in the competitions 10-year history.

With two games to play in the regular season, any one of four teams in the top five could miss the cut, and the three teams out of contention are all capable of playing spoiler.

Waitakere United's short trip south to WaiBOP is vital for the defending champions who sit in fifth place and face a tough final round match against high-flying Canterbury United. It's the first time Waitakere have been out of the top four at this stage of the season, but the table is so tight that a win could move them up as high as third.

Waitakere will be without experienced goalkeeper Danny Robinson who is currently serving the Football Ferns as goalkeeping coach, but will regain the service of player-coach Brian Shelley, who missed their 2-1 loss to Hawke's Bay last round through suspension.

They face a WaiBOP side brimming with confidence after scoring nine goals in their last two wins over Southern United and Wanderers SC.

Waitakere striker Maksim Manko will likely receive a cold 'welcome back' from his former team mates, after leaving the WaiBOP franchise earlier this year in controversial circumstances during the mid-season transfer window.

Hawke's Bay United's visit to Canterbury United is undoubtedly the highlight of the round as it pits the sides in second and third on the table up against each other. A win for Hawke's Bay would lock up second place for the first time in the franchise's history and increase their chances of making next year's OFC Champions League.

Fourth placed Team Wellington cannot afford a slip up against bottom of the table Wanderers at North Harbour Stadium on Sunday. Wellington are now masters of their own playoff destiny and a climb to second place isn't out of the realms of possibility should they win they also beat WaiBOP next weekend and have another result go their way.

Auckland City have already secured a place in the playoffs but still have much to play for against Southern United as a win would see them seal the minor premiership.

WaiBOP United v Waitakere United
John Kerkhof Park, Cambridge
Saturday15 February, 2014
Kick-off: 5pm
Referee: Campbell-Kirk WAUGH
#WBPvWTK

Southern United v Auckland City
Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin
Sunday 16 February, 2014
Kick-off: 1pm
Referee: John ROWBURY
#STHvAKL

Canterbury United v Hawke's Bay United
ASB Football Park, Christchurch
Sunday16 February, 2014
Kick-off: 2pm
Referee: Matt CONGER
#CANvHBU

Wanderers SC v Team Wellington
North Harbour Stadium, Albany
Sunday16 February, 2014
Kick-off: 2pm
Referee: Nick WALDRON
#WANvTW