Soccer: Fresh look as competition opens for season

The ASB Premiership kicks-off with two games in a split first round. Photo / Kenny Rodger

A new-look, renamed competition with new faces and even a couple of first-time grounds add to the intrigue as the ASB Premiership kicks-off with two games in a split first round this weekend.

Waikato FC host the first game which will be a real test for the new coaching duo of Willy Gerdsen and Rod Grove and their fledgling squad. Adding to the challenge of playing last season's round-robin winner Auckland City in a classic top v bottom affair, will be running out at a new venue.

After a couple of seasons at Centennial Park in Ngaruawahia the club has moved closer to their Hamilton home to play at Fred Jones Park - the pitch adjacent to Waikato Stadium and in the heart of the city.

"It is a really good set-up," said Grove. "It's worlds apart from what they had at Centennial Park and we are really looking forward to playing there."

Meeting City in the season-opener is a tough ask but one the Waikato coaches are looking forward to.

"We don't know a lot about Auckland City but we know they will be more experienced, well-organised and better resourced than us," said Grove. "They will have the depth to cover the players they have lost but expect they won't move too far away from their standard 4-3-3 set-up."

City are without long-serving stars including Ivan Vicelich, Grant Young, Keryn Jordan, Chad Coombes, Ki-Hyung Lee, Jason Hayne and Greg Uhlmann but will have new signing David Mulligan. Also missing is young striker Milos Nikolic who will turn out for Waikato.

Waitakere United begin their quest for another title (as winner of last season's grand final) with tomorrow's home game against Team Wellington at Fred Taylor Park.

Unlike most clubs, United have kept a reasonably stable line-up with the only notable absentees attackers Brent Fisher and Benjamin Totori.

Coach Neil Emblen has yet to settle on a starting line-up - that will come after training this morning - but will be without captain Jake Butler - in Singapore for trials. Tim Myers is back but only joined the team at training this week and still faces another two weeks of commuting from Dunedin. He is unlikely to figure unless Neil Sykes fails a fitness test.

Emblen has yet to decide between goalkeepers Danny Robinson and new signing Andy Ralph but has confirmed midfielder Chris Bale, back after a stint in Wellington, will start.

Game on
* Waikato FC v Auckland City
* Fred Jones Park, Hamilton
* Today 3pm

ASB Premiership
* Waitakere United v Team Wellington
* Fred Taylor Park, Whenuapai
* Tomorrow 3pm