Wanganui City will have to bounce back to their best to take on Federation League leaders Palmerston North Marist at Wembley Park today, after falling short last Saturday 3-1 at home to Taradale FC.
Marist are runaway leaders and will be looking to fine-tune tactics in round three as theymove towards Central play-offs, barring any restrictions being imposed by the powers that be reminiscent of the embargoes placed on last year's winners City.
While PN Marist have two victories from each previous encounter with Wanganui thus far in 2013, little has separated the two teams, with Marist making the most of today's hosts having had a player dismissed each time.
Barring any more indiscretions, City can push for a morale-boosting home win with the knowledge that if the teams stay numerically equal they have the manpower to hand the visitors, maybe, only their second loss of the year.
Ground conditions will be a major factor, with inclement weather taking its toll on a resilient Wembley Park No1 surface.
The players will be wise to be using their long studs rather than multi-surface boots as any slip-up, literally, at this level will be pounced upon by either opponent.
The officiating may well be of particular interest, with NZ Football inviting a prospect in the Fifa Development programme to referee, with the possibility of that official (unnamed at time of writing) may move on to take part in the next Fifa Women's World Cup.
The players on both sides may well find tolerance of both attitudes and actions different from their regular pool of Central Football referees. This, in turn, could have an effect of sorts, given the earlier indication of competitiveness with incidents occurring on what could be termed as a regular basis when they meet in the Federation/Western Premiership Leagues.
Whatever the outcome, City will be out to prove a point or two firstly to gain a victory over a side they believe has been beatable all season but, when up against them, they are always outnumbered for whatever reasons.
City also want to gain some sort of solace from Marist for "taking" their play-off spot last season when red tape became an issue.
