Focus on Cup action this weekend

Federation Cup football will take centre stage this weekend at Wembley Park with both the men's quarter-final and women's semifinal being played out.

In the meantime, Wanganui City will play their penultimate 2013 Federation League match tomorrow when they travel to New Plymouth to take on Team Taranaki.

With very little between the two sides, who both sit mid-table, City will be looking to roll over their 'Naki opponents for the first time this season after falling short by the odd goal in their previous two encounters.

For Taranaki, a side who have promised so much after basically being set up as a representative side in a club-based competition, it would be humiliating if City could sneak past them in the points standings with a road win.

Winning away is something that the Wanganui side seem to be adept at this season and considering City have been nowhere near full strength for much of the year, the irony would not be lost for those amongst Wanganui's footballing fraternity.

Men's Federation Cup action will kick off at 2pm today with Wanganui City Reserves hosting Taradale FC in a quarter-final which has all the makings of a David vs Goliath affair.

Taradale are heavy favourites for the match against a City Reserves side who, on paper, sit a level or two below their Hawkes Bay opposition. Taradale, having already won twice at Wembley Park against the Reserves' big brother Federation League side, will be relishing yet another trip to mighty Wanganui this season.

However, City Reserves will know they were also up against it last time out in the Cup when they forced a penalty shootout and prevailed against Port Hills over in Hastings.

With nothing to lose against much higher-ranked opponents, coach Steve Welch will surely be giving his players a free licence to attack.

It is a little different, however, when tomorrow rolls around and Wanganui Athletic Women host PN Marist Women's 1sts at 1pm.

Athletic have not tasted defeat this season and have seen off their opponents 3-1 already in their newly formed Top 4 format of the Manawatu Women's League.

The sides did play out a 1-1 draw in qualifying earlier in the year, but the Manawatu side only looked comfortable at home against Athletic - the league's top-scoring and best-defending side.

Coach Dave Downes will know his team have the potential to carry off a title in league situations, and will be looking to add more silverware in 2013.