They are second on the table but fifth on goals scored.
The coaching staff at Athletic will be well aware of this and will be applying pressure on the attacking players to up their game and show their true quality.
Key will be how those players can handle that pressure and whether they can channel that into goals.
The main thing that has kept Athletic at the top half of the league this year would have to come down to their miserly defence.
Conceding just four goals this season, two of which were last Saturday, they top the league in keeping the opposition out of the game.
Athletic's experienced goalkeeper, Nick Hayward, will be wanting to sweep the PNBHS result away under the carpet and show why he should be considered the best keeper in the Federation League.
If there's ever a chance to smash some away and declare their intent, the Reds must take this opportunity with both hands.
It was 8-0 the last time these two teams met, so I'm picking a 3-0 win to the Reds this time, as they shake off last week's result.
Wanganui City did not lose last weekend, beating PN Marist 3rds 2-0, but coach Kelvin Francis will be hoping the complacency of their second half performance will not rear its ugly head this weekend against the Red Sox.
A team that is gelling well, and playing an attractive brand of attacking football, City are controlling the league at the moment, sitting nine points clear of second-placed Hokowhitu.
But those nine points could easily disappear if City fails to maintain an aggressive outlook on each game.
Francis spoke last week about his team needing to get some urgency back when they've gone ahead, and to not take the foot off the pedal.
They will need to ensure they don't let Red Sox into the game today.
The change in character for Chris Annabell, who last season seemed to be a yellow card magnet, has been remarkable.
Annabell this year has taken on a new role as a crucial part of City's midfield, showing great leadership skills, and has become a player the rest of the squad looks to in measuring their own work on the pitch.
City will likely again turn to him to be the lynchpin of their defence and attack, as the strength of City's midfield will again be key, because it has been through this channel that they have been able to control games to date.
With the last match-up between these two teams finishing at 10-0 in favour of City.
I'm picking that again this could again be a 90-minute lesson in attacking football for Red Sox.
It will be a goal tally in excess of five for City, with another clean sheet for custodian Jason Fergusson.
The Wanganui Athletic women will be glad not to be travelling tomorrow as they host Wellington United at Wembley Park, following their previous confidence building display a fortnight ago.
Wellington United sit fourth on the Central League table, but they also sit fourth on the goals conceded standings as well.
Athletic will likely see this as an opportunity to meet a minor goal for their season to put a goal past their opposition.
They looked threatening in their last outing through striker Rose Lockett, but they will need to continue to build on their work in controlling possession and building play, if they are to give her decent opportunities to trouble United's keeper.
This could be the weekend the women in red earn their first competition point in Central League.
But it will take plenty of true grit, determination and self-belief, which new coach Donna Kahl would have been reminding them about.
The match kicks off at 1pm.
