The fight to make the top-four playoffs in this year's ASB Premiership is the most tightly contested race in the competitions 10-year history.
With two games to play in the regular season, any one of four teams in the top five could miss the cut, and the three teams out of contention are all capable of playing spoiler.
Waitakere United's short trip south to WaiBOP is vital for the defending champions who sit in fifth place and face a tough final round match against high-flying Canterbury United. It's the first time Waitakere have been out of the top four at this stage of the season, but the table is so tight that a win could move them up as high as third.
Waitakere will be without experienced goalkeeper Danny Robinson who is currently serving the Football Ferns as goalkeeping coach, but will regain the service of player-coach Brian Shelley, who missed their 2-1 loss to Hawke's Bay last round through suspension.
They face a WaiBOP side brimming with confidence after scoring nine goals in their last two wins over Southern United and Wanderers SC.
