KEY POINTS:
Auckland City's player-eligibility wrangle has gone to the top for a ruling.
City beat Waitakere United 1-0 at Trusts Stadium in late October but within days New Zealand Soccer ruled the club should be stripped of the points for fielding an ineligible player.
James Pritchett had been selected for, but subsequently withdrew from, the New Zealand A side who went to Vietnam at the same time.
Those points were then awarded to Waitakere who have led the NZFC since.
NZ Soccer competitions manager Glyn Taylor yesterday confirmed that the national body, on having the issue again raised by City's lawyers, was seeking clarification from Fifa.
"Auckland City have appealed the loss of points, questioning if this is the appropriate penalty or whether they should have been fined," said Taylor.
Meanwhile, the action returns to the field with most interest in today's Kiwitea St clash between City and YoungHeart Manawatu in a game vital to both teams.
"If we beat them we will leapfrog them into second place," said City coach Paul Marshall.
"Lose, and the gap between us will widen. It is a big game for both teams."
Of the threat posed by Solomon Islanders Benjamin Totori and Alick Maemae, Marshall conceded they were good players but every team had good players.
He did suggest, however, that City would be looking to do something slightly different in this afternoon's game. "But I'm not telling you what."
Marshall did say that he planned to rest Chad Coombes and Pritchett.
"The players are very tired. But having said that, they soldiered on against Waitakere on Wednesday. They were fantastic."
Keryn Jordan, apparently over his ankle injury, will need to be checked before playing today after taking a knock to the head on Wednesday.
Waitakere have an acid test of their own on the away trip to Canterbury United this afternoon.
Injuries will keep Danny Hay, Daniel Koprivcic and Hoani Edwards at home but in Sam Mathews, Marcel Isakowitz, Mikael Munday and Daniel Ellensohn, coach Steve Cain has ready made replacements.
In today's other game, Waikato FC play Otago United at Porritt Stadium and tomorrow Team Wellington are at home to Hawkes Bay United.
