United brace for uphill battle

Wairarapa United will start as underdogs in their opening Central League football match against Lower Hutt City at Queen Elizabeth Park Oval in Masterton on Sunday.
Lower Hutt City have made several new signings and come into the game on the back of victory in the popular pre-season Hilton Petone Cup competition, in which they had an unbeaten record.
So impressive have they been, in fact, Wairarapa United coach Phil Keinzley is already labelling them as top three material in 2011.
"They look very strong and they have had the games to get them ready. It's going to be hard work for us," he said.
The Lower Hutt City line-up includes two ex-Wairarapa United players in George Barbarouses and Andrew Abba.
Wairarapa United's preparation, on the other hand, has been anything but ideal. They have had a couple of "friendlies" but were below full strength and are still in the process of settling on their best combinations.
That doesn't mean, however, Keinzley is already conceding defeat to Lower Hutt City, rather he is simply acknowledging it will take something special for Wairarapa United to come up trumps.
"Potentially, we are every bit as good as them, but we certainly can't expect to be near the top of our game right now and that's why they have to be the favourites. We will get better, whatever we do."
Three players will be making their Central League debuts for Wairarapa United, defender Scott Robson and midfielders Nathan Cooksley and Dale Higham.
Robson, who played for Wellington in this year's national league, is said to be very much in the mould of Adam Cowan, the Manawatu NFL rep who has to miss this weekend's clash because of a suspension he picked up at the end of last season. Like Cowan, Robson has an aggressive mindset whether disputing possession in the air or on the ground.
Cooksley too has a "take no prisoners" attitude, while Higham has a good measure of pace and flair and should add further sting to an attack which already has plenty of that commodity in the form of Campbell Banks, Pita Rabo and Seule Soromon.
The full Wairarapa United squad for Sunday (kick-off at 2pm) is: Matt Borren, Carl Shailer, Waisake Sabatu, Scott Robson, Pablo Moya, Seule Soromon, Dale Higham, Miroslav Tvaroh, Nathan Cooksley, Pita Rabo, Campbell Banks: Subs: Ian Sandbrook, Aaron Spierling, Sakeo Valevou.