Soccer: Waitakere plan to end premiership on high note

Waitakere United will be looking to bounce back against Otago United tomorrow. Photo / Getty Images

Neil Emblen dismisses any suggestion he will take his Waitakere United players south tomorrow in search of the point they need against Otago United for the minor premiership.

"We can't play like we only need a draw," said Emblen. "We will be out to play our usual game. In fact, we are going to go even harder on attack.

"We will rest Chris Bale - but he will still travel - and give Michael Gwyther the chance he deserves."

Emblen and his players have their sights on a number of records as they look to bounce back from last Sunday's disappointing loss to Auckland City.

"It was not a great performance but at least the guys never gave up. But now we want to finish the league with a flourish.

"We have a number of records in our sights including scoring the most goals and conceding the least in a 14-game season. We can also achieve the highest points tally and end the season with a record 12 wins."

Allan Pearce has the chance to become the first New Zealand-born player to win the golden boot. He goes into tomorrow's ASB Premiership match three clear at the top of the chart with 11 goals. He needs to score two to head Luis Corrales as the leading scorer in the 14-game format.

"A win against Otago would give us some confidence as we head into the semifinals," said Emblen. "It won't be easy as they have shown at times this season they can be a difficult team to play against.

"But we are going to go down with a determination to attack them. We will play a 4-4-2 with Gwyther and Dakota Lucas up front and Pearce and Ryan de Vries out wide. We can't go down there and swan around. All the players are playing for their places in the play-offs."

If Waitakere pick up a point the minor premiership will be sealed.

"Even if we lost 2-0, they [Auckland City] would still have to beat Canterbury United by six or seven. That would be hard."

The scheduled game between City and Canterbury has been postponed and is unlikely to be played.

The other interest tomorrow centres on the Hawkes Bay United's home game with Waikato FC. If Hawkes Bay win, the fourth play-off spot will be theirs. A draw would not be enough as Canterbury sit a point back with that one game to play.