"The first one, we were off the back of a good result with Havelock.
"And then they came down for the Chatham Cup and that should have been ours.
"We really got to put the Chatham Cup aside because it was heavily subsidised with Team Taranaki players.
"It's not that we didn't create our opportunities, it's just that we have to put in the effort in the first half that we do in the second half.
"We want to show them that we deserve in that Top 3 and that second position is really ours."
It is a major point of contention for Athletic that the May 13 game cost them an undefeated record at home, although it was a knockout Cup match instead of regular season play.
"We spoke about that at the start of the season - that we wanted to make Wembley Park our fortress.
"It just seems, even going back to last year with Team Taranaki, that there is this rivalry there.
"It's a physical match, it's a hard fight."
Of Rangers 21 goals this season, Sam De St Croix is the dangerman with nine, while Athletic's Ryan Holden and Scott Burney share the honours for their team with six each.
The home side welcomes back Kelvin Hove from injury today, while brother Raymond (three goals) will again be an impact player off the bench once he finishes his work shift.
Quinn Mailman, who also suffered concussion in the New Plymouth match, is back in form after he used the bye week to go score two goals for the GVCA Wanganui Athletic Reserves in their 9-2 win over Massey Celtic.
The Big Orange Wanganui City 1sts will hope to make last weekend's 2-1 win over Feilding United, deep in injury time, serve as a wake up call as they start the second round of the Horizons Premiership at home today with Breakers RSM Rovers.
"On Tuesday, we spoke about it," said coach Kelvin Francis.
"Some of the boys were surprised about what Feilding would bring to the party - I certainly wasn't surprised.
"I said to the boys, 'there's not many teams out there than can out-football us', so what are they going to do?
"They're going to get up in our faces and push."
Another issue is that the City team that which takes the field will have some noticeable differences to the side that smashed Rovers 8-0 at Skoglund Park on April 1.
As well as the transfers of Jamie Lambe and Jordan Joblin-Hall to PN Marist in Central League, this week the squad lost leading goal scorer Anthony Bell to a quad strain, while Carl Bond has an upcoming visit to the doctor which is likely to confirm a slight meniscus tear.
"It will probably be a month after he gets his operation [before training]. So he may have to wave goodbye to the season," said Francis.
To cover the absences, Francis had brought up his mate from City Hammers in Dan Aplin, who has been scoring goals in the local league, while Josh Jonas got clearance on his ankle and trained at right back this week.
"He and Bondy will switch."
After Breakers were dealt to by City, their next match after rain postponements was an 8-2 loss to the other Premiership contender in Hokowhitu FC.
However, since then they have been on an undefeated streak - beating Feilding (6-1), North End (5-1), Marist Development (5-4) and Levin (3-2), while the 2-2 draw with Athletic Reserves only happened when they had three players red-carded.
Brynn Cleaver has eight goals for the season, the same as Bell for City, while Jack Gleeson has scored three.
"They're strong in the middle of the park," said Francis.
"I'm definitely aware of that [record].
"Some of the players are like, 'aw, yeah'.
"Attitudes will be changed at pre-match time."
Meanwhile, the Athletic Reserves (2-2-4) could do City a big favour if they rise the occasion at Skoglund Park against Hokowhitu, who remain three points adrift of City heading into their rematch next month.
All three games kick off at 2.45pm.
