Wairarapa United football boss Phil Keinzley insists places are still up for grabs as his side focus on chasing the elusive Chatham Cup-central league double this year.
That's the promise from premier team coach Phil Keinzley, who hopes for an influx of aspiring candidates when an open training session isheld at Howard Booth Park in Carterton tomorrow, starting at 5.30pm.
Keinzley says every player who fronts up will be given equal opportunity to strut his stuff and boost his chances of selection in either the club's top side or their seconds, who will be playing in the Capital fourth division series.
"You do hear a lot of talk about the premiers being something of a closed shop but that's definitely not the case, we've still got a month or so before we'll be finalising this year's squad," Keinzley said.
"Anybody who fancies their prospects of making it should have a crack, it costs them nothing and who knows where they could end up."
Keinzley is aware last year's memorable Chatham Cup success will be a hard act to follow but he is determined they will again be among the front runners in the nation-wide knockout competition.
"It's a huge hill to climb but now we've done it once there is absolutely no reason why we shouldn't go close again," he said.
He was "very confident" his squad would be as strong as last year's.
That sentiment has been given extra credence by the probability that Nobuyishi Ishi will again be on deck after earlier thoughts he may not return from Japan.
He was an integral part of the midfield through the latter part of last season, not only because of his solid defence and distribution skills but because of his scoring abilities.
Keinzley has one major concern, though. He needs to find a back-up keeper for the super-consistent Matt Borren - and he would be stoked if tomorrow night's open training session provided an answer to that dilemma.
"Goalkeeping is the one area where we don't seem to have any depth, we have a big hole to fill there."
Wairarapa United have never won the central league competition but last year's third placing indicates getting that monkey off their backs should happen sooner rather than later.
