"The first few weeks will be tough," says player/coach Robertson who is co-captain of Team Wellington who have qualified for the O-League with Auckland City AFC.
That means fellow summer league Wellington players Saul Halpin and Fergus Neil also will be unavailable during the O-league schedule.
The Blues still have a pedigree summer premiership look about them although Welsh import midfielder Miles John is not returning and Ollie Chapman "is not playing at all".
Enter former golden boot striker Stu Wilson, Matt Bruin, who was injured most of last year, talented Bay schoolboy Ross Willox and new UK import Rob Pearson.
Englishman Pearson, of Chester, has been playing for Bala Town FC in the Welsh Premier League before he arrived here on Wednesday last week.
"The club here is really professional and I love it and the lad are decent players so I'm enjoying it so far," says the 25-year-old centre midfielder who prefers sitting in front of the back four to feed balls to the attackers.
He attended English university with Rovers player Steve Hoyle who recommended the Napier club to him.
Describing himself as diligent, Pearson prefers to "get stuck in a little bit" in the engine room but is mindful the approach here can be different.
"It's not as physical here as it's at home so I have to be careful."
He is enjoying the mentoring of Robertson and his assistant, Chris Greatholder, but is mindful that the Blues will have a target on their backs every time they run on to the field in the league because of their reputation.
He started playing the game "as soon as I could walk", kicking a ball against the wall.
His father, Bob Pearson, was a centreback and as PE teacher moved to London.
The liverpool academy beckoned the younger Pearson when he was nine and he stayed until 15.
A year before he left school he went to Wrexham FC but turned down an offer to stay there after 19.
"At university there were lots of good players and we were playing twice a week and training and at the same time getting a degree."
MATCH DETAILS
ROVERS: 1. Ruben Parker (GK), 2. Daniel Ball, 3. Harry Morton, 4. Rob Pearson, 5. Fin Milne, 6. Matt Bruin, 7. Steve Hoyle, 8. Ryan Tinsley, 9. Angus Kilkolly, 10. Saul Halpin, 11. Tom Biss, 12. Fane Morgan, 14. Josh Stevenson, 15. Jim Hoyle, 16. Danny Wilson (c), 17. Fergus Neil, 18. Ross Willox, 19. Bill Robertson, 20. Stu Wilson, 21. Kyle Baxter.
Player/coach: Bill Robertson.
Ast coach: Chris Greatholder.
Team manager: Jim Neil.
Video analyst: Tim Motu.
Physiotherapist: Alex Gairdiner.
GK coach: Kyle Baxter.
WESTERN SUBURBS: 1. Mitchell Stewart-Hill (GK), 2. Riley Kelliher, 3. Tyler Lissette, 4. Cory Brown, 5. Adam Thomas, 6. Alex Palezevic, 7. Joel McCormack, 8. Sean Morris, 9. Michael Fraser, 10. Harry Edge, 11. Billy Scott, 12. Tinashe Marowa, 14. Matt Wilson, 15. Josh Sutherland, 16. Noah Billingsley, 18. Ben Sippola, 19. Kyle Adams, 22. Bryce McMillan, 23. Greg Rosenthal, Ryan Lewis (RGK ).
Coach: Lloyd O'Keefe.
