KEY POINTS:
THE carrot of a fourth straight grand final appearance - and the chance of a fourth win - dangles in front of the Auckland City players heading into tomorrow's New Zealand Football Championship elimination final.
The odds favour City who will host Team Wellington for the second time in six days at their Kiwitea St fortress.
But, with a score to settle after being undone by City's South African connection on Sunday, Team Wellington's coach Stu Jacobs and captain Adam Birch are intent on revenge.
After holding out for a 2-2 draw - and guaranteed second place in the minor premiership - until Keryn Jordan's 94th minute winner, Team Wellington know they can match their rivals even if history suggests otherwise.
In 12 clashes, City have won 11. One has been drawn. In their one appearance in a preliminary final, in 2005/06, Team Wellington lost 2-1 to Canterbury United who went on to lose the final to Auckland City in a dramatic penalty shoot-out.
After being sidelined through suspension for the past two games, Ben Sigmund returns to lead City in what will be his last home game at the club before joining the Wellington Phoenix. Greg Uhlmann is also back from suspension and James Pritchett returns from injury to give City coach Colin Tuaa an almost full-strength squad to choose from.
Interestingly, the three leading goalscorers on the all-time list will be in action.
Jordan (54 goals from 63 NZFC outings) is joined by teammate Grant Young (47 from 79) and Wellington's Graham Little - this season's golden boot - who has 44 from 80 (an NZFC record) appearances.
On Sunday, playing their third game in a week as well as their O-League trip to Tahiti, City had periods when they struggled.
Refreshed, ready to fire and with the chance to play long-time adversaries Waitakere United in the April 20 final, Auckland City will be hard to topple, especially with all-important home advantage.
Team Wellington though will be no pushover. Having scored more goals than the Aucklanders this season, they will back themselves in a game which promises to go down to the wire. Perhaps even beyond that.
A postponed game from round 14 between Canterbury United and Hawkes Bay United will be played at English Park on Sunday.
