KEY POINTS:
Waitakere United coach Steve Cain is working on the one-in-10 theory as he prepares to pitch his side into the biggest game of the season today.
United meet their nemesis Auckland City at Trusts Stadium this afternoon in what could well be the start of a US$1 million campaign but Cain is all too aware the odds are stacked heavily against his side, even with the home advantage.
The match is the second in the 2007 Oceania Champions League with City already off to a flying start with their 2-0 victory over New Caledonia's AS Mont Dore in Noumea four days ago.
Adding to their undisputed favourites tag is the history between the two sides. In nine previous battles - and some have been that - City have won them all, on the pitch at least. The only hiccup came this season when City beat Waitakere 1-0 at Trusts Stadium but were then docked the points for fielding an ineligible player.
Waitakere should have broken their duck a few weeks later in a classic contest at Kiwitea St when they stunned City, just back from the Fifa Club World Cup in Japan, by taking a 3-0 halftime lead.
In an amazing turnaround, aided by a naive effort from United and a spirited fightback by the home side, City got up to win 4-3 in stoppage time in a game best remembered for the shocking refereeing of Neil Fox, who flashed 19 cards.
"If we get 3-0 up this time, I'll call the players off and pretend it's over," joked Cain yesterday. "If nothing else, that last game should ensure a good crowd for this one.
"We know we are the underdogs. They are the reigning Oceania champions and have never lost to us."
While encouraged by his team's 5-1 win over Otago last weekend, Cain is not reading a lot into that.
He has had to make a number of changes to his starting 11 as players signed in the transfer window are ineligible.
Waitakere will be without Mikael Munday and Marcel Isakowitz from the team that started against Otago. He must also do without other recent signings Daniel Ellensohn and New Zealand Knights striker Michael White for the same reason.
City coach Paul Marshall puts his team out with some confidence after the win in Noumea.
"We know a lot more about Waitakere than we did about the New Caledonians," Marshall said.
"But if we give them a three-goal start this time, I wouldn't count on us coming back. The players are certainly not in the same state of mind as they were last time as they tried to get over the effects of the long trip back from Japan.
"This is a big game for both teams. Obviously we are going there to win. I feel I have the team to do that."
There are some interesting battles within the overall contest.
At opposing ends of the ground will be two former All Whites goalkeepers, Michael Utting and Ross Nicholson, who were teammates at the 1999 Confederations Cup in Mexico.
On attack, the rejuvenated Paul Urlovic - who scored both goals in City's first-up O-League triumph - will be keen to do better than former Central United teammate Daniel Kopricvic, who scored a hat-trick in United's win over Otago.
The match will be referred by Tahitian Jacques Averii.
Teams
Waitakere United v Auckland at Trusts Stadium, Henderson, today 6pm:
Waitakere
Michael Utting, Rupesh Puna, Danny Hay/Graham Pearce, George Suri, Hoani Edwards, Jakub Sinkora, Jeff Campbell, Prince Quansah, Allan Pearce, Commins Menapi, Daniel Koprivcic.
Reserves: Simon Eaddy, Sam Jasper, Michael Gwyther, Sam Mathews, Pedro Santos, Stuart Hogg.
Auckland City
(Likely): Ross Nicholson, Neil Sykes, Jonathan Perry, Greg Uhlmann, Ben Sigmund, James Pritchett, Jonathan Smith, Liam Mulrooney, Chad Coombes, Grant Young, Paul Urlovic.
Reserves: Richard Gillespie, Cole Tinkler, Paul Vodanovich, Paul Seaman, Luiz Del Monte, Keryn Jordan, Christoph Pospich.
