Their latest acquisition, Fijian international Valerio Nawatu, seems likely to miss Wairarapa United's top-of-the-table central league football match with Miramar Rangers at Queen Elizabeth Park oval on Sunday.
Nawatu was battling an ankle injury when he arrived in Masterton earlier this week and while he attended Wairarapa United's training session on
Tuesday night he was unable to move freely enough to convince Wairarapa United coach Phil Keinzley he would be ready for action by the weekend.
"Quite honestly I can't see him making it, he's pretty lame and it'll probably take a few more days yet to come right," Keinzley said.
Wairarapa United will train again tonight and so keen is the competition for places in their starting line-up for the Miramar Rangers match that Keinzley will be taking careful note of work rates there before deciding who will make it and who will miss out.
"Basically we have options all over the park and it's a matter of seeing who is in the best shape, physically and mentally," he said. "It's a pressure game for both teams and whoever we pick have to be up for it."
Keinzley says Wairarapa United's game plan against a Miramar Rangers side which has had four wins and three draws in their seven lead-up games in comparison to Wairarapa United's five wins and two losses will depend very much on who is on the field at any given time.
"We're fortunate enough to have the skill levels to tactically change things pretty quickly if we need to so having the one game plan probably doesn't make sense," he said. "We know we have players who are better suited when we are pushing forward on attack and others who fit in better when we go more defensive ... it's a good way to be."
Keinzley is hopeful that the usual army of Wairarapa United fans will be at the oval to lend their support for what, even at this still relatively early stage of the season, could have a big say in who wins the 2011 central league title.
"A big, vocal crowd would be a terrific boost for the guys; morale-wise you can't beat it."
