KEY POINTS:
Waitakere United's hopes of grabbing a place at Fifa's World Club Cup in Japan have worsened with yesterday's confirmation that the team's inspirational captain Danny Hay has a fractured bone in his ankle.
Hay is almost certain to miss the return leg of the O-League final with Solomon Islands champions Kossa FC at Trusts Stadium on Sunday.
Waitakere must bounce back from their lethargic 1-3 loss in Honiara 10 days ago and win by a minimum 2-0 if they are to retain their O-League crown and with it the chance to win through to the World Club Cup where either Manchester United or Chelsea, among others, will be their rivals.
Hay hobbled out of the April 20 New Zealand Football Championship grand final win over Team Wellington at Trusts Stadium after taking the full weight of a clumsy tackle from former Waitakere player Daniel Ellensohn late in the first half.
He travelled with Waitakere to the Solomon Islands for the first leg but only as coach Chris Milicich's assistant.
His absence was sorely felt as the rejigged four-man defence failed to cope with the conditions and the rampant Kossa attack.
Hay has no doubts Sunday's game will be a "big ask" for his teammates.
"I am able to walk but I definitely can't train," said Hay yesterday.
"I'm already resigned to the fact I won't be playing." He has, however, signed for another season with the club saying, "the only reason is that Japan is everything".
"To win on Sunday will be a tall order for sure," said Hay.
"I think we can beat them but [Kossa FC] are a good team with plenty of pace and skill."
Milicich remains philosophical in looking to other players to step up in the absence of their skipper.
"The news is not good on Danny and I have effectively crossed his name out from my thinking.
"It is a blow for him personally and also for us as a team but we will box on and are fortunate to have great experience and quality to call upon in this sort of scenario," he said.
Ironically, the return leg was originally scheduled for last Sunday at a time when Auckland was being whipped by storms which would have made conditions virtually unplayable - a far cry from the heat and humidity Waitakere battled in the first leg.
Many more New Zealand fans than just Waitakere supporters will be looking for a victory on Sunday as a healthy proportion of the minimum US$500,000 ($638,000) prizemoney at stake in Japan in December will be available to be spread among the other seven NZFC franchises and New Zealand Football.
