Trust House Wairarapa United have at least two good reasons to produce a top-notch performance in their central league football match with Napier City Rovers at Hullena Park, Masterton on Sunday.
Not only do they want to reverse their somewhat unlucky first round defeat at the hands of NCR but they are looking to bounce back quickly from their 5-0 loss to competition leaders Western Suburbs last weekend.
The chances of Wairarapa United achieving both those objectives have been helped by coach Phil Keinzley being able to field his strongest possible side for the first time this season.
All 14 squad members are fit
and free of suspension with the only slight doubt surrounding skipper Pita Rabo who has been battling the 'flu this week but is expected to be fully recovered by match day.
Keinzley put much of the blame for the Western Suburbs defeat on his own shoulders, admitting he made a tactical blunder by having them adopt an approach more defensive-orientated than what was normally the case.
The anticipation for Sunday is that Keinzley won't fall into the same trap again and that Wairarapa United will be aiming to fully utilise the attacking qualities of players like Seule Soromon, Campbell Banks and Nick Roydhouse.
They have that lethal combination of speed and flair and against an NCR defence which has already leaked 28 goals this season they are clearly potential match winners.
The return of the classy Richard Gillespie in goal is another boon for Wairarapa United and he should shore up a defence which will see the versatile Adam Cowan in the role of central fullback.
Wairarapa United currently sit eighth on the central league table with only Palmerston North Marist and Wellington United behind them and there is still a mathematical possibility of them being involved in a promotion-relegation series later in the season.
A win on Sunday would guarantee their central league survival, yet another incentive for them to come up with something special.
United all fit, free and ready to go
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