Soccer: Coach Cain wants more pep from team

There was a bit of hard talking and a few home truths at Waitakere United training this week as Coach Cain got his message across.

"It was more of a pep talk and not only because of the result in Dunedin," said Steve Cain who, like Auckland City coach Allan Jones, watched from the sideline as their teams went under last weekend for the first time in this season's New Zealand Football Championship.

"I'm looking for a bit more energy in our performance. And, it needs to be for the full 90 minutes.

"I was also quick to remind them in no uncertain terms Waikato FC on Sunday will be no pushover.

"There can be no room for complacency."

Cain will also be looking to import Pablo Cardozo to continue his improvement and match younger brother Richie in providing some go-forward.

"We know Pablo is a good player and I'm sure he is not far away from showing it," said Cain.

While he was not prepared to nail a starting XI, Cain hinted German under-21 international Marcel Isakowitz is likely to get a first start.

"He adds to the puzzle especially at the moment while [Australian] Shannon Cole is out. With four imports, of which we can use only three at one time, there is a chance to play the Cardozo brothers and Marcel, who is only here until Christmas. That is an option for sure."

Jason Rowley returns after illness and will slot in at the back in place of veteran defender Sean Douglas, who is out for about a month with a hamstring injury.

"I am expecting Waikato to be a handful. Even without Che Bunce, they went 2-0 up on Team Wellington and led 2-1 at halftime," said Cain.

"We couldn't do that. There are a few Auckland boys in the Waikato team who will have a point to prove."

Canterbury are at home to struggling Hawkes Bay tomorrow and should pick up three points.

Auckland City face a difficult away trip to Dunedin today without goalkeeper Ross Nicholson, who has the week off to attend a family wedding.

It will be the first minutes of NZFC action Nicholson has missed since its inception.

Otago have kept pace with the leaders in winning two-from-three and will give nothing to the visitors as they play at the Caledonian for the second time this season.

In perhaps the closest contest of the round, Team Wellington are again on the road, this time to Palmerston North and a clash with YoungHeart Manawatu which could see the points shared.

With five teams sharing the lead, it is still going to be close come the end of play tomorrow. Given the apparent evenness of the eight teams, this battle is set to continue for some weeks yet.