The loss of a couple of experienced players through decisions not to play at the higher level has left the City roster leaner than what coach Kelvin Francis would have liked.
With Francis having to kit up and play custodian today, manager Bryan Mackie will have to step up and take more of a controlling role on the sideline.
City should take some belief into this match however, having previously downed Marist by 5-0 in the opening round of the competition, but they will need to ensure they pick themselves up and look to punish Marist from the outset if they're to turn their fortunes.
Harder questions should be asked of the staff and players this weekend if they fail to fire, as this season's promise after last season's success demands more from the boys in gold.
Wembley's No1 ground will again be the host of a derby match today, and don't be surprised to see Athletic and City supporters wearing eye-patches, as the result of the match will be discussed with one-sided opinions at the final whistle.
Today, it's the turn of the third placed City Renovators to take back the bragging rights from current holders Wanganui Athletic, after the Reds grabbed a late victory over the City Reserves a few weeks ago, allowing them to fly the victor's flag over their clubrooms.
But the Renovators have proven that while they may be a development team within the City club, their approach to games and style of play is successful, clocking up some decent wins over tougher opponents.
Athletic too have shown their rebuilding season is starting to pay dividends, having only lost one game in their last five, and with self-belief building each week, they could prove to be a defining opponent for the Renovators this weekend.
This match will still have plenty of feeling, but it's sure to present much more in the way of a battle of footballing prowess as opposed to physicality.
With Athletic's mix of experience, youth, and imported players going up against Tex von Kwiatowski's locally developed talent, this match promises to be 90 minutes of 90 emotions and will be a superb match for the casual spectator to take in.
Behind the hedge on Wembley's No2 field, Karl Hayward's City Reserves will be determined to turn around their season of broken promises, when they take on the Marist Banshees today at 12.30pm.
The Reserves have struggled this season, despite having a roster of players ranging from exciting young talent to veterans who won the league with City last year.
To the spectator on the sideline, this team should be getting better results, and despite their inability to control their emotions on the field, they have provided plenty of entertaining and attacking football, and are not shy at finding the back of the net.
It still seems, however, their biggest failing is their ability to capitalise on any lead they may earn.
Several times this season the Reserves have gone ahead in matches, only to concede late in the game and fall to a loss.
This should be playing on Hayward's mind, and no doubt he would have been drilling the never give up mentality into every player at this week's training.
The Banshees could well be an opposition that will provide the best opportunity for the Reserves to show that they're able to implement that mentality, with the Banshees having fallen to four losses in their last five outings.
No doubt the Marist players will be looking to get under the skin of the Reserves early, to force them into rash decisions on the pitch, but the Reserves will need to call on all of their experienced players to right the ship and guide the youthful exuberance of their talented players to focus on the task at hand, sitting on the right side of the scorecard.
