Pool of solid performers poses selection dilemma

Table toppers Wairarapa United will have two of their three recruits from last year's champions, Miramar Rangers, on deck for their central league football match with Tawa, at Tawa, on Saturday.

Goalkeeper Phil Imray, defender Tim Schaeffers and midfielder Darren Cheriton have all completed their obligations with national league runners-up Team Wellington but Cheriton will be missing because of a prior commitment.

Imray will start in place of Richard Gillespie, who has done such a fine job as stand-in keeper, but whether Schaeffers will join him won't be decided until after training tomorrow night.

The uncertainty has nothing to do with Schaeffers' fitness or skill, rather it is a mark of the stern competition for starting places within the Wairarapa United squad, especially in defence, where skipper Nathan Cooksley, James Oxtoby and Waisake Sabatu have all been performing well.

That selection dilemma might be eased to some degree, however, if midfielder Miroslav Tvaroh fails to pass a fitness test on the ankle he injured during the 2-0 win over Petone last weekend. Tvaroh was one of his team's best performers but he won't be risked if there is any doubt about him seeing out a full 90 minutes. In that case, Cooksley will probably move into the midfield with Schaeffers taking his spot in defence.

With Wairarapa United a clear leader on the central league points table and Tawa eighth of the 10 teams, there is no question over who will start favourite this Saturday but coach Phil Keinzley won't need a long memory to warn of the dangers of under-estimating the Tawa threat.

The situation leading into their first round clash last year was similar and a confident Wairarapa United side was sent packing in no uncertain fashion.

Keinzley will also be looking for star striker Seule Soromon to continue the excellent form he has been showing in recent weeks. He is one of three players to have netted six central league goals to date, along with Hamish Watson, of Lower Hutt City, and Tomas Mosquera, of Western Suburbs.