KEY POINTS:
In what shapes up as more of a sprint than the usual distance event, there will be few chances for slip-ups when the New Zealand Football Championship kicks-off in Christchurch this afternoon.
With just 14 rounds, opposed to the customary 21, there is little room for error in the race to find the top four for the end of season play-offs.
The emphasis is on those first 14 rounds as the top dog at that point in the season is guaranteed a spot in the next O-League. In the past, the first O-League place has gone to the grand final winner.
There has been the usual off-season shuffle with players switching clubs and a couple of new faces among the eight coaches.
Korouch Monsef, who took over from Danny Halligan at Canterbury United last season, is back and will be hoping the late season rally under his tutelage continues, starting with today's first-up clash with YoungHeart Manawatu. Bob Sova, who takes over from Shane Rufer at Manawatu, has made a couple of interesting signings including former Team Wellington midfielder Raf de Gregorio.
The major interest will be on traditional title contenders Auckland City and Waitakere United.
Their entertaining 2-2 draw in Sunday's O-League opener showed they will again be among the spoils when the season ends on April 4-5.
Ivan Vicelich leads City this season with a team little-changed and retaining a strong international presence.
Grant Young celebrates his 100th game - in all competitions including the World Club Cup - for the club tomorrow in the Kiwitea St battle with Otago United who struggled, particularly away from home, last season.
Young, with 48 goals, is the leading NZFC goalscorer and, with 82, has played the most times.
Coach Terry Phelan is back at Otago but has not listed himself on the playing sheet for this game.
In what promises to be the match of the round, last season's third-placed Team Wellington are at home to winner Waitakere. Both Stu Jacobs and Waitakere's Chris Milicich have been retained as coaches as have many of their players.
Waitakere's Brazilian Adriano Pimenta eased himself into his new club on Sunday showing enough to suggest he will play a key role in forthcoming weeks. He will play next Saturday's match against the Wellington Phoenix, their O-League tie with Port Vila Sharks, again at Trusts Stadium, on November 22, their midweek NZFC away game with Auckland City (November 26) and at the World Club Cup in Japan next month.
In the other opening round match, Hawkes Bay United, still under coach Jonathan Gould, are at home to Waikato FC tomorrow, with Dave Edmondson at the helm. All matches kick-off at 3pm as do most this season.
