KEY POINTS:
Jonathan Gould is not getting carried away by the strong start his Hawkes Bay United team have made in the New Zealand Football Championship but is certainly encouraged by the efforts his players have given him.
"We have recruited some key players who have fitted in well and have built on that," said Gould as he prepares for tomorrow's home game with Canterbury United at Park Island. "This is not an easy league. There are no games you can go into expecting to win."
Not even at home to a side you have already beaten 3-1 away this season?
"You have to work hard in every game. Canterbury have picked it up in their last couple of games [they went down 1-0 to leaders Team Wellington on Sunday]," said Gould. "This is a huge game for both teams."
Asked where he had pitched his hopes at the start of the season, Gould said he had not.
"The players set their own goals. Being in the top four, they insisted, was the bare minimum. They have a real belief in what they can achieve."
Gould points to Cole Peverely, Jeremy Brockie, Jarrod Smith and Jonathon Taylor - key closed-season signings - as playing a huge part in the Bays' changing fortunes.
"They have played instrumental roles and taken the other players with them," said Gould. He is more than happy that Smith and Taylor - from good Hawkes Bay stock - have returned to Park Island.
"I got a phone call out of the blue from Jarrod which was great."
Smith is a key part of the Bay attack often sharing the role with Brockie or Sam Messam. They form an imposing strikeforce, physically and technically, ever-keen to take on opposing defences.
"They give us different dimensions when we go forward," said Gould. "Take last week's game as an example. We started without Sam Messam but he came on to play a role and was on the field when we got the late winner."
With Team Wellington and Waitakere United out of the picture this weekend - Waitakere play their Fifa Club World Cup match in Japan tonight - Auckland City have the chance to leap to the top of the table.
At home to YoungHeart Manawatu tomorrow, City will seek to keep their unbeaten start to the season intact.
Like Hawkes Bay, City kicked their season off with a 3-1 away win over Shane Rufer's team and should, with home advantage, make it two-from-two.
Manawatu showed something against Waitakere at times last time out but had their hopes dashed with the sending-off of Osea Vakatalesau which left them to play catch-up. City, who have yet to lose to Manawatu at home, are without James Pritchett and Grant Young but have Keryn Jordan back and have called in George Suri.
They are the team many, including Gould, who still rate City as the team to beat despite Team Wellington's perfect start.
"I was impressed with what I saw when we played them ," said Gould. "They taught us a good early lesson. They are the best all-round team - just. Team Wellington deserve to be on top. They are on a roll but are more likely to concede than City."
