Soccer: NZ Football Championship semifinals, first leg

TEAM WELLINGTON v WAITAKERE UNITED
Newtown Park, Wellington, 5pm today
Referee: Peter O'Leary (Hamilton)

Team Wellington (from): Phil Imray, Steve Gulley, Michael Eager, Mike Pickering, Sam Blackburn, Peter Howe, Luis Corrales, Bryan Little, Andy Barron, Karl Whalen, Sam Jenkins, Pedro Garcias, Peter Halstead, Adam Birch (c), Tim Schaeffers, James Bannatyne.

Waitakere United (from): Richard Gillespie, Aaron Scott, Tim Myers, Danny Hay (c), Hone Fowler, Paul Seaman, Benjamin Totori, Allan Pearce, Neil Sykes, Roy Krishna, Daniel Kopricvic, Jeff Campbell, Chris Bale, Neil Emblen, Jake Butler, Kayne Vincent, John Chisholm, Danny Robinson.

THE GAME: The first of the two-leg semifinals and a replay of last year's Grand Final won 2-0 by Waitakere who have since beaten Stu Jacobs' side by two goals in round-robin play this season.

THE PLAYERS: Winning is about scoring goals so the focus will be on Golden Boot Luis Corrales (Team Wellington) and Waitakere's Roy Krishna who missed the first part of the season but still made a run at the goal-scoring trophy. Both bring genuine flair and pace to the game and are contenders for Player of the Year honours.

THE RESULT: History suggests Waitakere as they have never lost in the Capital. Came from 0-2 to win their season opener 4-2 and then won 2-0 at Trusts Stadium. They should take at least a draw and with it a valuable away goal or two.

YOUNGHEART MANAWATU v AUCKLAND CITY
Memorial Park, Palmerston North, 2pm tomorrow
Referee: Chris Kerr (Auckland)

YoungHeart Manawatu (from): Chris Marsh, Nelson Sale, Pablo Yackson, Jan Weissenfeldt, Jason Hayne, Nathan Cooksley, Raf de Gregorio, Gustavo Saralegui, Adam Cowan (c), Scott Robson, Nik Tromp, Isaac Duker, Finlay Milne, Alick Maemae, Cory Chettleburgh, Matt Borren.

Auckland City (from): Ross Nicholson, Matt Friel, Sam Campbell, Matt Williams, Ki-Hyung Lee, James Pritchett, Chad Coombes, Grant Young, Jacob Spoonley, Alex Feneridis, Ivan Vicelich (c), Greg Uhlmann, Xavi Roca, Milos Nikolic, Adam McGeorge, Jonathan Raj.

THE GAME: Revenge will be on the minds of the home team in their attempt to snap a three-match losing streak in past play-offs. They lost 3-1 to City in 2006-07 preliminary final. City have lost once in play-offs - in extra time to Team Wellington last season.

THE PLAYERS: Experience is key in such encounters. The hosts therefore welcome the return of key midfielder Raf de Gregorio while the visitors have Grant Young back to fill the void left by Keryn Jordan's absence through injury.

THE RESULT: City ended the season with a rattle including an eight-goal O-League effort. At times Manawatu have turned up the unexpected although not at the business end of the season. City should fly home with at least a point and a couple of away goals to set up a semifinal triumph next week.