Wairarapa United have drawn a tough pool at the national under-19 men's soccer inter-club tournament to be hosted by the Napier Rovers club in Napier over Labour weekend.
Last year's finalist Dunedin City will be amongst their five opponents there, alongside Papakura, Auckland Metro, Island Bay and Waterside-Karori.
Wairarapa United coach Phil
Keinzley admits to having little knowledge of the composition of the opposing teams but he says past history suggests Dunedin City, Papakura and Auckland City will all be fancying their chances of chances of finishing in the top two on the points table and therefore qualifying for the quarter-finals.
And with Island Bay and Waterside-Karori both playing a division above Wairarapa United in the Wellington-based Ivan England Trophy competition they too will be a force to be reckoned with.
On paper then Wairarapa United will start the rank outsiders in their pool but Keinzley is optimistic they can turn that to their advantage.
"The more other teams take victory over us for granted the better for us," he said.
"We can sneak up on them that way."
With an average age of just 17 Wairarapa United will probably be the youngest side at the tourney and while their lack of experience will count against them Keinzley is confident they have the mental strength and flair to make a decent nuisance of themselves.
"I think our skill level will surprise a lot of people, there are some very talented individuals in the group," he said.
The Wairarapa United squad is: Jackie Chan, Alec Wardell, Leighton Calkin, Hadley Henderson, Anaru Te Rangi, Keiran McGruddy, Yuseke Maneo, Niki Keinzley, Anton Ross, Aaron Spierling, Joel Vatselias, Ryan Athow, Kota Maneo, Thomas Hemi, Andrew Traill.
