Soccer: Kingz optimistic despite rearranged rearguard

By TERRY MADDAFORD

It has not been a great week for Football Kingz coach Ken Dugdale.

As if dropping points after appearing to have last week's game against Melbourne Knights in the bag was not bad enough, Dugdale has been struck with the flu.

He was still not 100 per cent when the team flew out for Sydney yesterday morning for tonight's game against Marconi Stallions.

Already without injured defenders Jonathan Perry and Johnny Foundoulakis, Dugdale also lost Jonathon Taylor when he was stood down after copping four bookings in seven games.

Worse, on the eve of their departure defensive stalwart Hiroshi Miyazawa cried off, struck down by the same bug that has hit Dugdale.

It will be a hugely rearranged defensive unit that runs out tonight.

Dugdale and assistant coach Stu Jacobs will wait until closer to kick-off before deciding on their lineup.

"We have to decide whether to stay with three at the back as we have all season or look to change things," said Jacobs before the team headed out for a light training run yesterday evening.

It seems Mark Atkinson and Riki Van Steeden will play at the back.

They are likely to be joined by either Darren Young or Ben Sigmund - who would be making his Kingz debut - or both, if they decide on a four-man defence.

That will have other implications. Last week Patricio Almendra, Harry Ngata and Andy Vlahos played up front with James Pritchett, Chris Jackson, Raf de Gregorio and Jeff Campbell in midfield. While all have travelled, Mark Burton, who came off the bench last week, may start.

Paul Urlovic has been left at home, as has Steven Turner.

"Steven is the unlucky one," said Jacobs. "It is just the uncertainty of the likely formation which has forced changes.

"We have come to Sydney with the mindset of getting three points so we will have to continue with the attacking style we have been playing.

"Losing key players hasn't helped. Whatever we do, we are going to be light on experience at the back but we will work round that."

Michael Utting is back to full fitness after pulling up with a calf strain three weeks ago, so he is set to take over in goal from James Bannatyne.

Marconi, who could not buy a point in the opening weeks, hit winning form last weekend with a win over a below-strength Brisbane side.

Marconi will again look to the experience of defender Dominic Longo and striker Joe Spiteri, who scored twice against Brisbane.

The match kicks off at 9.30pm (New Zealand time).