Soccer: City full strength for pivotal clash

Last week's debacle behind them, Auckland City co-coaches Aaron McFarland and Ramon Tribulietx have turned their attention back to the ASB Premiership and tomorrow's key 2nd v 3rd clash with Team Wellington.

Forced to miss a weekend following the late postponement of their scheduled O-League clash in Noumea, City have taken some comfort in that their players have had a handy break and are ready to put out a full-strength team for a game they feel they must win to keep their top-two aspirations alive.

"It is not nice for the players to have a game pulled like that," said McFarland. "They had made all the necessary arrangements to get away. It now throws some uncertainty into the next few weeks as we try and fit games in which is not ideal.

"On the positive side, we have a fully fit squad and all players now available including Manel Exposito."

The influential Spanish striker is likely to be joined in the starting XI by defender and fellow Spaniard Angel Berlanga who was named as the ASB Premiership player of the month for January, with his coaches sharing the coaching award.

"Like most, we have just about given up on winning the minor premiership but have our sights firmly set on finishing in the top two to give us the best chance of making next season's O-League," said McFarland. "We are more about continuing the good form we have shown since our only loss of the season.

"We have done well but are being hurt by those three draws early on which cost us valuable points."

Team Wellington have lost only one of their last seven - 2-1 at home to Waitakere - but must overcome the Kiwitea St jinx if they are to prevail.

In nine games at City's ground Wellington have won only once - 3-1 in 2009 in a game in which Luis Corrales, now with City, was one of their goalscorers.

At full strength, Team Wellington will be a handful and would like nothing more than to upset James Pritchett's 100th premier game for City.

They would need a huge effort to do that given their past record and the form City have shown at home where their only dropped points - in all competitions - came in the loss to Waitakere and the surprising 0-0 draw with Otago United.

Waitakere coach Neil Emblen has rung the changes for today's home game with Hawkes Bay.

With Roy Krishna out and sidelined for up to four weeks with a dislocated wrist and Sean Lovemore forced to take a 30-day stand-down after his brief outing for the Phoenix midweek, Emblen has recalled Ryan de Vries to played in midfield.

He has also given youngsters Luke Adams and Tim Payne their first starts but has Martin Bullock, Zane Sole, Michael Gwyther and Jack Pelter as outfield cover on the bench.

ASB Premiership

Waikato FC v Canterbury United
Centennial Park. Today 12.30pm
Referee: Mike Hester

Waitakere United v Hawkes Bay United
Fred Taylor Park. Today 2pm
Referee: Jamie Cross

Auckland City v Team Wellington
Kiwitea St. Tomorrow 2pm
Referee: Jonathon Price