Soccer: Emblen on guard for Tefana

Neil Emblen. Photo / Getty Images

Neil Emblen is expecting no favours from a Tefana team intent on revenge when he puts out his Waitakere United side today in Papeete in a key O-League group B clash.

With just one point - from a 1-1 draw with Auckland City - the French Polynesian champions are at the bottom of the table but Emblen is taking scant notice of that.

"I checked them out on the website and they are quite a big team and from what I remember from our first game, they are more physical than most island teams," said Emblen.

"They are top of their league and, like us, play a counterattacking style of game.

"The key is to score first and put them under pressure."

Emblen has taken a predictable team with him, adding Martin Bullock even though he has not played since being injured before Christmas.

The heat and playing on an artificial pitch add to the conundrum as Waitakere look to repeat the 3-1 win they scored when the teams met at Fred Taylor Park in October.

"We certainly don't want a repeat of last year when we had Roy Krishna sent off in New Caledonia," said Emblen, who had four training sessions on the artificial surface at North Harbour Stadium in preparation - the last just a couple of hours before their Wednesday flight.

But, at least Waitakere get to play.

In a late decision Auckland City's scheduled game against AS Magenta in Noumea today has been postponed.

"We did not learn that we wouldn't be playing until 6.15 on Wednesday," said City chairman Ivan Vuksich. "The players were ... getting ready to go when the call came.

"It is a very unsatisfactory situation. Even now we face real uncertainty over the availability of flights in the next few weeks as we attempt to get the game played."

O-League

AS Tefana v Waitakere United Stade Louis Ganivet, Papeete.

Today 6.30pm (NZ time). Referee: Bertrand Billon (New Caledonia).