KEY POINTS:
All Whites and Waitakere United captain/defender Danny Hay is out until after Christmas after copping a painful rib injury in United's 1-0 loss to Canterbury last Sunday.
The injury, the result of what coach Steve Cain called a clumsy challenge during the second spell, is expected to take up to four weeks to heal.
"He played on, but by Monday morning he was quite sore. An x-ray confirmed our worst fears that he has cracked a rib," said Cain. "He is almost certainly out until the New Year. This is a real blow as he has been playing and leading the team well."
In Hay's absence, goalkeeper Michael Utting will again step up and lead in tomorrow's New Zealand Football Championship clash with Team Wellington at Trusts Stadium.
George Suri will now be partnered by Rupesh Puna or Graham Pearce in the centre of the United defence.
"We are struggling with injuries throughout the squad," said Cain. "We are down to just 16 fit players, so selection won't be too difficult."
He will welcome back influential midfielder Hoani Edwards after his two-match suspension, but is still without Jeff Campbell and the Mathew brothers Sam and Joel through injury.
Simon Eaddy is going to Adelaide as goalkeeping coach for the Knights, leaving young Aaran Rowley as Utting's understudy.
Pedro Santos and Pedro Garcias are listed by Cain as doubtful, but he hopes they will be fit to play.
"Unlike some injuries which are the result of pulls or tears, most of ours have been impact injuries, often the result of late or ill-timed tackles," said Cain.
Of almost as great a concern is the failure of his players to step up at home.
"We have being playing effective football in that we have not been conceding [goals]. It hasn't been pretty but now, after that period of consolidation, it is time to step up."
He does not see Mick Waitt's Team Wellington as the easiest to do that against.
"I'm expecting a torrid game, although I understand Graham Little is out. If you let them get their tails up they can be the most dangerous team in the country.
"If you had a game you wanted three points from, you certainly would not choose them to play."
Cain said he was disappointed to come away from last week's game empty-handed after dominating the first half and the last 15 minutes.
"One bad period cost us. Now, with three top teams to play in our next three games, we can't afford slip-ups."
New Waikato FC coach Roger Wilkinson faces a tough first-up test with a home game against Canterbury United tomorrow.
Waikato are having a season from hell, but Wilkinson will be looking to turn that around, especially as he has a forthcoming transfer window in which he will be looking to strengthen his squad.
In today's only game, Otago United have the home advantage but not a lot else going for them when they play YoungHeart Manawatu.
