Soccer: Waitakere face Hawkes Bay in opener

Waitakere players celebrate a goal. File photo / Dean Purcell

Defending champions Waitakere United will kick-start the ASB Premiership season against a new-look Hawkes Bay United at Fred Taylor Park this afternoon.

Waitakere are keen to get this one out of the way and sit back and see what evolves in tomorrow's remaining first-round action.

Coaches Neil Emblen (Waitakere) and Matt Chandler (Hawkes Bay) - two of only four to retain their roles - are coy about their chances.

Bolstered by the off-season signing of Adam Cowan, Hawkes Bay head north fully aware they were the last team to beat Waitakere at their place in the premiership and followed that with a 2-1 win pre-season in Taupo.

The pressure is on Emblen who is unlikely to be tempted into playing much this season.

He has the core of last season's winning side back including golden boot Allan Pearce and Roy Krishna who missed a decent chunk of that campaign through injury.

The Bay have beaten Waitakere only three times in 18 meetings but Chandler has shown out as an astute coach and will be aiming for a fourth this afternoon.

Early season favourites Auckland City have the short trip to Hamilton tomorrow and should hand head coach Ramon Tribulietx a winning start in that role.

An emphatic first half laid the foundation for City's win over Waitakere in Sunday's Charity Cup season opener and the largely inexperienced Waikato side will be up against it in what is a draw-from-hell opener.

New coach Declan Edge will have his youngsters primed but against the Ivan Vicelich-led City he will need everything to go his way if they are to salvage anything.

In other games tomorrow, YoungHeart Manawatu, under former Team Wellington boss Stu Jacobs, entertain Keith Braithwaite's Canterbury United while in Wellington the home side should get the points in their clash with Otago United who also have a new coach.

ASB Premiership

Round one
* Waitakere United v Hawkes Bay United. Fred Taylor Park, today 2pm.
Referee: Peter O'Leary

* Waikato FC v Auckland City, Porritt Stadium, tomorrow 2pm. Referee: Campbell-Kirk Waugh

* YoungHeart Manawatu v Canterbury United, Memorial Park, tomorrow 1pm.
Referee: Nick Waldron

* Team Wellington v Otago United, David Farrington Park, tomorrow 2.30pm.
Referee: Mirko Benischke