Long-time rivals Auckland City and Waitakere United are off in different directions this weekend on missions which ultimately will define their seasons.
City are already in Port Vila preparing for today's key first leg of the O-League final against Vanuatu champions Amicale with the eventual winner guaranteed a minimum US$500,000
pay day as one of the teams at December's Fifa Club World Cup in Japan.
The stakes are nowhere near as high for Waitakere who fly to quake-hit Christchurch tomorrow but are just as determined to slam the door on Canterbury United and book a home ASB Premiership grand final with Auckland City.
City co-coach Aaron McFarland is back in the country of his birth for this afternoon's showdown with an Amicale side in front of what promises to be a big and boisterous crowd.
Buoyed by an unbeaten home record in reaching the final, the Vanuatu side will continue their attacking style in an effort to take the points and head to Kiwitea St in a fortnight with the tie alive.
Both teams scored 12 goals in their pool matches with Amicale's Fenedy Masauvakalo leading the golden boot with six.
"First and foremost, we want to score," said McFarland. "If we can come back with a 1-0 or even a 1-1 draw it will be amazing and put us in a good position. Those away goals can be vital. I remember one time when Waitakere lost 2-1 away to Ba and then won 1-0 at home to go through. That's how tight it can be."
McFarland said he and fellow coach Ramon Tribulietx will put out a team very similar to the one who thumped Team Wellington last Sunday but with captain Ivan Vicelich set to return. Whether Luis Corrales keeps returning All White David Mulligan out is apparently the only other selection poser.
Amicale coach William Malas is determined his side make the most of home advantage against an obviously talented City side.
"We have a lot of respect for Auckland," said Malas. "But we have prepared well and are ready to face them. We have been training hard and I am sure our boys will give them a good run."
Neil Emblen has pulled one major surprise in naming his team for the game at Tullet Park by deciding on long-serving midfielder Chris Bale alongside Jason Rowley as centre-back.
"Chris has played there a couple of times," said Emblen who has named himself on the bench. "I want us to be a bit more compact so I have gone with a 4-4-2 line-up with Michael Gwyther and Dakota Lucas up front and Allan Pearce and Ryan de Vries playing wide in midfield."
With a 6-2 advantage after their first leg romp at Fred Taylor Park, Emblen admits it will be a difficult situation.
ASB Premiership
Semifinal, second leg
Canterbury United v Waitakere United
Where: Tullet Park.
When: Tomorrow 2pm.
Referee: Peter O'Leary
O-League
Final, first leg
Amicale v Auckland City
Where: PVL Stadium, Port Vila, Vanuatu.
When: Today 5pm (NZ time)
Referee: Bertrand Billon (New Caledonia)
Long-time rivals Auckland City and Waitakere United are off in different directions this weekend on missions which ultimately will define their seasons.
City are already in Port Vila preparing for today's key first leg of the O-League final against Vanuatu champions Amicale with the eventual winner guaranteed a minimum US$500,000
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