SOCCER - Plunkett injury ahead of vital game

North Force are almost certain to start their vital away clash against league leaders East Coast Bays tomorrow without captain and talisman Bruce Plunkett.
A groin strain has sidelined Plunkett this week, throwing the side's plans for the match into disarray.
The skipper has formed a solid partnership in the centre of defence with Scott Burgess but will be equally missed in set-pieces. Plunkett has got himself on the scoresheet a few times this season with his timing and aerial expertise as the go-to man from the set-piece and has been the provider of several more goals.
He has not trained with the squad all week and said yesterday he would travel with the team on Saturday and undergo a late fitness test before the match. Plunkett said if he was a betting man, he would have money on himself to fail the test.
"It's not good mate, it hasn't really come right this week but we'll just have to leave it until Saturday to see."
North Force are lucky to have several players who can replace Plunkett in defence but it is likely that alternative set-piece plays will have been practised at North Force training this week.
Alex Luiten played well during North Force's Chatham Cup victory over Manurewa last weekend and was a regular starter in the defensive line during last year's competition.
Aaron Taylor is another experienced defender and North Force manager Dean Wheatley could do a lot worse than repositioning him alongside Burgess in the middle of defence.
David Healey is another strong possibility and Adam Sharp's return from injury will add to the selectors' options.
Wheatley said that striker Sammy Oso will also have to pass a fitness test before the match after missing last week's game but he is more optimistic about Oso's chances of playing.
The manager is still positive about his side's chances of upsetting the runaway favourites for the US1 competition title.
East Coast Bays have yet to drop a point in their eight matches to date, but Wheatley was encouraged by the result of their last home match against Western Oratia, where they conceded three goals in a 4-3 victory.
That was a third of the goals they have conceded to date in the competition, and with the Bay City Park-based side scoring at an average of 4.7 goals per game, whatever defensive set-up is selected by the visitors on Saturday, they will have their work cut out for them.
Wheatley said North Force won't be holding out for a 0-0 draw in the match and he is expecting a lot from his attack.
On Saturday in the curtain-raiser, the young North Force Reserve squad will be out to make amends for their dismal showing against East Coast Bays last weekend, when they went down 0-7 in the US1 Reserve Knockout competition.