Athletic face gritty challenge

GOING WELL: City Renovators Sam Willis against Athletic's English import Hishi Gyatso Lama, who has made a good start with his new club.

WITH a week off for a couple of teams this weekend due to cup competitions taking their opponents away, it's over to Devon Homes Wanganui Athletic to provide the entertainment on Wembley's main ground this weekend as they host the Levin AFC 1sts at 12.30pm in the Western Premiership.

Meanwhile, the Wanganui City Renovators travel to Palmerston North's Skoglund Park to have a crack at Hokowhitu.

Wanganui Athletic have started to find some good form recently, and are starting to shape themselves into a truly competitive team in this edition of the premiership.

Boosted by a couple of quality young English imports, the Reds have started to combine well, allowing them to put together some decent performances, and climb their way up the ladder, after a staggering start.

Having not lost a match in their last five games will build Athletic's confidence to take on Levin, as well as having the benefit of playing in front of their home supporters.

Levin are traditionally a very physical side, and have shown that they will never lie down with the ability and the tenacity to come from behind and steal points from their opponents.

Athletic will need to ensure they are switched on for the entire 90 minutes, and will not be afforded any momentary lapses of concentration.

I'm picking this should go Athletic's way if they can dominate the second half, and prevent Levin from getting their tails up for a last ditch effort.

The City Renovators might still be smarting from last weekend's heavy defeat but that will not stop them from going out against Hokowhitu with a renewed desire to pick up a win.

Hokowhitu has shown they are a team to be feared, and one might wonder whether the young lads in the Renovators can shake off last weekend huge loss in the local derby to put on a decent showing of football against a team that has scored 32 goals in just seven games.

The match will certainly hinge on the experience of the likes of Ben Toyne, whose job in the midfield will be controlling the youthful exuberance around him, and directing their talents into a unified team effort.

It remains to be seen whether the revelation that has been Neihana Kahl can get his mind back into the scoring zone and find the back of the net a few times.

Having managed to do so nine times in his seven appearances, it would seem that he is sure to give the Hokowhitu defence something to worry about.

I'm picking it to end up as either a draw, or a close victory to the Renovators.