Soccer: Clubs get Xmas makeover

New faces and the three-week Christmas break add more than usual interest as the New Zealand Football Championship hits the halfway point with matches today and on Sunday.

The opening of the transfer window has had clubs scrambling to bolster their squads and, at the same time, make the hard decisions to keep their squads under the 28-player maximum.

This evening's clash in Napier between the home side and third-placed Otago United kicks off the 11th round with what promises to be an absorbing battle.

Punters looking for some value and early seasonal cheer could do worse than have a look at the visitors.

Rated a $3.20 shot by the TAB, Otago are capable of taking at least a share of the points at Park Island. The Johan Koutstaal-coached southerners have lost just twice in 10 games and are separated from second-placed Waitakere United only on goal difference.

United's chances have slumped a little with the loss of captain and key midfielder Andrew Coburn to injury.

Inspirational goalkeeper Lutz Pfannenstiel plays his last game for Otago. His team-mates will be keen to give him a worthy send-off.

Napier City coach Charlie Howe will waste no time in pressing son Peter Howe into the starting line-up for the 6pm clash.

Howe, a former New Zealand under-20 and under-23 international, returned from the United States on Tuesday and is expected to take a central midfield role.

He is likely to be joined in the starting XI by Leon Birnie, who has spent some time in hospital, missing a couple of games.

Tonight's other game pits the fifth and sixth-placed teams, YoungHeart Manawatu and Waikato FC, against each other for the second time at Palmerston North's Memorial Park.

In their earlier clash, in the first game of the season, Waikato FC upset predictions with a 4-0 away win. They have won only once since and might struggle for a third here.

"We will be going to Memorial Park with a lot of confidence," said Waikato FC football manager James Pamment. "Manawatu are playing reasonably well and we will pay them respect, but we have already achieved there this season."

Manawatu coach Colin Tuaa has named newcomers Ian Sandbrook and Dane Raynor in his squad. They will be joined by Luiz Del Monte in what promises to be a strong midfield trio. Del Monte is back after a one-match suspension.

"We aim to build on last week's good performance," said Tuaa. "The highlight for us was our passing and movement. If we can continue to build on that, I am confident we will secure the three points."

Auckland City coach Allan Jones will take new signings Glen Eie and Brad Scott south for Sunday's encounter against Team Wellington at Newtown Park.

City saw off second-placed Waitakere United with a clinical display last time and deserve to start favourites for this one.

Already well-served on attack, City will be even more lethal with Scott up front.

Team Wellington have also gone to the transfer market, bringing in All White midfielder Raf de Gregorio and former Miramar Rangers striker David Johnston.

The odds-makers have ignored Team Wellington sending them out at a tempting $5.20 - generous for a team who have won one and drawn two of their last three games.

Waitakere United are also in the transfer stakes and have looked to bolster their attack by securing former under-17, under-20 and under-23 international Allan Pearce.

Pearce, who has been in England with Lincoln City, is set to join the championship's leading marksman Keryn Jordan in a two-pronged attack against Canterbury United.

There will be more than passing interest in Kris Bright's appearance for Canterbury.

A former player with Waitakere City, Bright has had trials in England and has just been named in the New Zealand under-20 team.

The formbook has taken a hiding every week. This one promises to be no different.