KEY POINTS:
Canterbury football, once the hotbed of the game in New Zealand, is in the doldrums and facing a bleak future.
With eight rounds of the NZFC behind them, Danny Halligan-coached Canterbury United have had two draws, scored only six goals and slipped behind Otago United to the bottom of the heap.
It will not be any easier this Sunday when they confront pace-setters Auckland City in a match brought forward from round 20.
Heading into the first meeting of the season with their arch rivals, Canterbury can take some heart from their last clash when, in round 20 (of 21) last season, they beat City 3-0 at Kiwitea St.
Life has been nowhere near as rosy for the southerners since. They played out draws (0-0) and (1-1) with Otago and Waikato in the second and fourth rounds respectively but have done nothing since, scoring just three goals in four games while giving up eight.
They have also lost Scottish playmaker Stuart Kelly and striker Blair Scoullar who "has pulled the pin" for the season.
City coach Colin Tuaa can sympathise with Halligan's plight.
"I've been down there so I know the feeling," said Tuaa. "They have obviously hit rock bottom. These things happen to every team at some stage. We should go there expecting to win but there is no room for complacency."
Tuaa has some problems of his own with Joel Mathews and Greg Uhlmann forced out after red cards in the 1-0 win in Napier last weekend. He is also without Craig Wylie, James Pritchett and Keryn Jordan.
In Jordan's absence Paul Urlovic and Henry Fa'arodo will contest the starting spot up front with Grant Young.
Sam Campbell and Riki van Steeden will be in contention for Uhlmann's spot at the back. Midfielder Bryan Little will be keen to add to his goal-scoring tally having been joined at the top of the golden boot race by Waikato penalty sharp-shooter Robert Gill.
Sunday's other game has a familiar ring to it with Team Wellington at home to Waitakere United in a third versus second battle.
Again a game brought forward (from round 14) to accommodate Waitakere's O-League commitments has plenty riding on it as City, Team Wellington and Waitakere jostle for bragging rights and a home final.
Wellington made the most of their trip north to stun Waitakere 2-1 in the opening match of season four. Waitakere returned the compliment with interest in the pre-season scrap at Newtown Park with a runaway 5-1 win after taking a 3-1 lead into halftime in a game in which Allan Pearce scored a hat-trick.
Stung by that, and full of enthusiasm, Stu Jacobs' Wellington then did a job on neighbour YoungHeart Manawatu last Sunday with a record-equalling 8-0 romp to become the championship's leading goalscorers. On the flip side, they have conceded 12 - the most by any team in the top five.
Jacobs has Raf de Gregorio and Brazilian Caue Benicio back with Jamie Farrington and Sam Blackburn making way.
Waitakere have Jason Rowley and Paul Seaman as replacements for the unavailable Darren Bazeley and Graham Pearce.
