Forced to look for back-up players, Auckland City coach Colin Tuaa has gone "international" in naming his team for this afternoon's New Zealand Football Championship clash with Team Wellington at Newtown Park.
Hit hard by injuries to Keryn Jordan and James Pritchett in Wednesday's loss to Waitakere United,and with Riki Van Steeden also forced off with a recurrence of a groin injury during the same game, Tuaa has named Solomon Islanders Nelson Sale, Alick Maemae and George Suri in his travelling squad.
They are joined by Korean Ki-Hyung Lee, American Matt Friel and South African Alick Maemae in what will be a new-look line-up.
Tuaa has also included former Mt Albert Grammar first X1 stars Milos Nikolic and Jonathan Raj.
Team Wellington's attack is spearheaded by Brian Little, who goes up against the team he played for in the last two seasons.
Little and Luis Corrales, who has scored two of his team's four goals, will carry the attacking workload.
Wellington coach Stu Jacobs is without All Whites Andy Barron (broken arm) and Jeremy Brockie (stress fracture), the suspended Steve Gulley, and injured Sam Peters and Jamie Farrington.
Both teams are desperate for points.
City are looking to bounce back from their first loss of the season while the home side have won just one in three and have the worst goal difference (minus four) at this early stage of the season.
For Waitakere United, today's home game with Canterbury United is another test, with two or three players under the microscope and needing to convince coach Chris Milicich they are fully fit and ready to join the flight to China and Japan on Wednesday.
In other fourth round action, leaders YoungHeart Manawatu entertain Hawkes Bay United this afternoon and in tomorrow's game (early kick-off 1pm), Waikato FC and Otago United meet in Ngaruawahia.
