KEY POINTS:
A tough, competitive season-opening game - with "a bit of niggle" - behind him, Auckland City coach Colin Tuaa is now looking to kick on from that away win over YoungHeart Manawatu tomorrow.
On paper, visiting Hawkes Bay United might not be expected to pose quite the same threat as Shane Rufer's Manawatu, but Tuaa is understandably wary of a side who too boast first-up winning form.
Both won 3-1 away and, while it is a big ask for Jonathan Gould and his team to repeat against a City side who scored an easy win in their only [O-League] outing at their new home at the Croatian Cultural Society's headquarters in Henderson, they will be trying.
"I was reasonably pleased with how things went in Palmerston North," said Tuaa of his visit to his old home. "We have a clear idea of the way we want to play. Now we have to get smarter, move the ball quicker and keep moving forward.
"It is good that we have the players able to play a different system if the situation so demands. It was a great result down there.
"Manawatu were competitive and man-marked our strikers but we were in reasonable nick and did well.
"Ki-Hyung Li too came in for some attention but got through okay. There is no doubt having that game a week earlier helped tremendously, especially as we had not played any NZFC teams pre-season."
Bryan Little kicked on from his impressive first-up effort in the O-League win over AS Manu Ura by scoring a hat-trick and the early golden boot lead.
Work commitments kept Keryn Jordan out of the opening round but he returns to the squad for this one and will possibly play off the bench given the solid first-up City effort.
Injuries have sidelined defender George Suri and striker Eliezer Anello for the game in which James Pritchett and Paul Urlovic are poised for their 50th NZFC outings.
In the same game last season, City thumped the visitors 6-2.
This promises to be much closer.
Waitakere United were untroubled by Waikato FC last season winning all three. Sunday's game at Waikato Stadium gives Roger Wilkinson and his team some hope of snatching at least a point.
Waikato have winning form - a first up 2-0 away win over Otago United - and home advantage to boost their chances against a Waitakere team who have yet to hit their straps.
Commins Menapi is back from suspension to bolster the Waitakere attack and Neil Sykes returns after a quick trip to England.
They come in for Hoani Edwards and Blair Konik while Neil Emblen is still out with the ankle injury he picked up in the O-League win over the Tahitians.
Che Bunce is down to play for Waikato but Steven Holloway will miss a few games through injury.
Waitakere could point to their outstanding home form as the basis for their minor premiership honours last season. Having already dropped three points at home this season, they will need to do better away - starting on Sunday.
With a first-up win to kick-start their season - again away (2-1 over Waitakere) - Team Wellington will be looking for more of the same against neighbours Manawatu who hold the upper hand in these contests.
In 10 clashes, Wellington have won only twice with Manawatu taking seven of the possible nine points last season which included a 2-1 victory at Newtown Park, the venue of Sunday's game.
Southern bragging rights go on the line in Dunedin on Sunday when Otago host Canterbury - both first round losers - with neither laying real claims to outright favouritism.
