Wairarapa United are taking nothing for granted in their Central League football match with Taranaki United at New Plymouth tomorrow.
While the form book says a comfortable Wairarapa win is on the cards, there is a general awareness that winless Taranaki have under-performed this season and that the home ground advantagecould be enough for them to produce a much-improved performance.
''We can't afford to underestimate them. That would be asking for trouble,'' coach Phil Keinzley said. ''They are clearly better than they have shown and they generally play well at home. There's nothing easy about this one at all.''
Compounding Keinzsley's nervousness is the knowledge that, while they won their last two games, Wairarapa are still to play anywhere near their full potential.
The list of walking wounded continues to grow week by week and fielding a full-strength side this weekend looks a near impossibility.
At the time these notes were penned, Keinzley still had to assess the fitness of six of his squad _ Miroslav Tvaroh, James Oxtoby, Sakeo Valevou, Aaron Spierling, Carl Shailer and George Barbarouses.
All of them are struggling with injury and early indications are that, while Shailer and Barbarouses will probably be fit enough to front up against Taranaki, the other four will either be on the reserve bench or sidelined altogether.
In that case the starting line-up would likely be skipper Richard Gillespie in goal, Carl Shailer, Pita Rabo, Waisake Sabutu and Pablo Moya in defence, Ian Sandbrook, Andrew Abba, Adam Cowan and George Barbarouses in midfield, and Seule Soromon and Campbell Banks up front.
Keinzley is confident, however, that whoever takes the field for Wairarapa United will have a team with the goal scoring and defensive capabilities to produce a victory.
''There are areas of concern, yes, but that doesn't mean there will be any excuses for defeat,'' he said. ''We've often talked about how much depth we have in our squad and this is the chance to prove it.
''Play well and we will win, it's as simple as that really.''
