Suspensions and the loss of players to the Oceania Olympic qualifiers which start in Fiji tomorrow have led to massive reshuffles for New Zealand Football Championship teams heading into the weekend's round 17 matches.
Waitakere United have lost golden boot leader Benjamin Totori - representing the Solomon Islands
- but in Commins Menapi, back from injury, Daniel Kopricvic and in-form Allan Pearce, they have plenty of goal-scoring cover for their home match with ever-dangerous Waikato FC.
Waikato will welcome the chance to play on North Harbour Stadium's outer oval but will need the ball to roll kindly if they are to upset the championship contenders.
Roger Wilkinson brings his team north without the suspended Dale Beattie and Sam Wilkinson and has lost other players to national duty. He does, however, have firepower back-up in Chris Wood and Robert Gill.
Waitakere have won eight of 12 against Waikato. With Danny Hay and Jonathan Perry back to bolster the defence, they should make it nine.
Auckland City are away to Hawkes Bay United and too should maintain their winning form. They have now won five in a row - their best run of the season - and need nine from a possible 15 to become the first team in the NZFC to amass 50 in a season. Ross Nicholson and Greg Uhlmann are back from injury and are joined by the returning Adam McGeorge in the 16-man squad for the trip to Napier.
Hawkes Bay are without coach Jonathan Gould - on duty as assistant coach of the Olympic team - and key players Jeremy Brockie, Cole Peverley and Sam Messam who are also in Fiji.
Team Wellington trounced YoungHeart Manawatu 8-0 on their earlier trip this season. While it is difficult to see a repeat, the hosts will be keen to snap a three-match losing streak.
The battle of the south promises to be close. Canterbury have lost Sam Jasper to suspension while Otago United have the same squad as that which lost 5-0 at home to Team Wellington a week ago.
