KEY POINTS:
Auckland City coach Paul Marshall is hoping Keryn Jordan will be ready to play this afternoon's crucial Kiwitea St New Zealand Football Championship clash with Canterbury United.
Jordan has been back in his native South Africa after his father's death but Marshall said his star striker was scheduled to return last night.
If he is ready for action, there remains the question of just how Jordan might be used as he has not played since that fateful pre-Christmas game in which he and two Waitakere United players were sent off.
Marshall said: "In his absence, Paul Urlovic and Grant Young have played well ... but, we are not scoring the goals we should."
Marshall said he was not disappointed with the 1-1 draw in Hamilton and Wednesday's hard-fought 2-1 win in Napier.
"I have been encouraged by the opportunities we have created but you have to put the thing [football] in the back of the net."
City are getting closer to full strength but are still without defender Riki Van Steeden, who was injured at the Club World Cup in Japan.
Today's game pits two teams separated by just a point in third (City) and fourth (Canterbury) places against one another and could be the key in the run-in to the finish with just the top three to go on to the play-offs.
"It is an important game for both teams, who will be going for the jugular," said Marshall.
It will be United striker Henry Faarodo's last game before returning to Melbourne. Returning midfielder Andy Barron could also be sidelined.
In other games this weekend, Hawkes Bay United, like City, are at home but also have to back up just three days after their midweek catch-up game. They face leaders Waitakere United, who will be keen to build on the momentum they took from last week's 2-0 win over YoungHeart Manawatu.
Otago United and Team Wellington meet in Dunedin in the third of today's games. Manawatu face what could be a tricky home game with Waikato FC tomorrow.
