United players battling injuries

Three Wairarapa United players are battling injury problems leading into their team's final match in the 2008 Capital Soccer premier competition against Marist at the Pugh Sports Bowl, Masterton on Saturday.
Waisake Sabutu (knee), James Oxtoby (foot) and Miriek Tvaroh (hip) were all in the "doubtful starter" category yesterday but coach Phil Keinzley is "pretty confident" all three will take their place in a game which Wairarapa United need to win to guarantee them the premier division title, and a shot at the central league for 2009.
"I can't see any of them missing this one, they'd walk on hot coals to be part of it," Keinzley said.
"In any case they should all be right in another couple of days, resting up is the best cure for them."
Good news too for Wairarapa United is that skipper Pita Rabo is on the mend from a neck problem caused in a work accident with Keinzley expecting him to firing on all cylinders for what is being touted as the most important match in the history of the club.
"Win this and we have a chance to play in the highest league we possibly can next season, guys like Pita are hanging out for that, "Keinzley said.
"It's a huge incentive for them and they don't want to waste it."
Word is that Capital Soccer CEO Keith Palmer will be bringing the premier division trophy (which is apparently valued at $30,000) to Masterton on Saturday to present to Wairarapa United should they win but, understandably, Keinzley himself isn't looking that far ahead.
He anticipates a stern challenge from a Marist side desperate to avoid relegation and is adamant that if Wairarapa United don't bring their "A game" to the Pugh Sports Bowl they will lose, and possibly open the door for second-placed Tawa to snatch the spoils from under their noses.
For that to happen Tawa would almost certainly have to beat Kapiti Coast on Saturday as well as win their two catch-up games which follow.
Two wins and a draw could have them even with Wairarapa United but the latter have the better goal difference, which is understood to be the first of the countback systems should teams finish on the same number of competition points.
Currently Wairarapa United have scored the most goals in the premier division, 47, as well as conceding the least, 18, which gives them a goal difference of plus 18.
Tawa, on the other hand, have scored 34 goals and conceded 21, leaving them with a goal difference of plus 13.
Saturday's game also sees Wairarapa United striker Seule Soromon in with a chance of setting a new Wairarapa United mark for the number of goals scored during any one season.
He needs just one more to take the name of Scotsman Kevin Murray out of the record books in that regard.