Soccer: NZFC - this week's picks

HAWKES BAY UTD V WAITAKERE UTD

* Park Island, Napier, today 6pm.
Referee: Peter O'Leary

Hawkes Bay

Mitch OBrien, Wayne Atkins, Graham Fyfe, Chris Greatholder, Jason Hayne, Dean Johnston, Lee Mudd, Ben Murphy, Sam Jenkins, Jamie Farrington, Willie Stanger

Substitutes: Jonathan Gould, Nick Lucas, Andrew Huxford, David Gearey, Ethan Dent

Waitakere

Simon Eaddy, Hone Fowler, Craig Wyllie, Jake Butler, Richard Cardozo, Daniel Ellensohn, Pablo Cardozo, Sean van Rooyen, George Suri, Ben Hall, Michael Mayne

Substitutes: Chris Limmer, Stuart Hogg, Marcus Phillips, Prince Quansah

ODDS $9 DRAW $4.40 ODDS $1.30

Prediction:

Waitakere's second visit to the Bay should bring a repeat of their first day triumph. Deserved a draw against Auckland City and should rekindle their play-off hopes against a team who still can't buy a point. 

WAIKATO FC V AUCKLAND CITY

* Waikato Stadium, Hamilton, Sunday 4pm.
Referee: Kevin Stoltenkamp

Waikato

Mark Fulcher, Stu Watene, Craig Flowerday, Aaron Scott, LJ Pijnenburg, Grant Cooper, Danny Donegan, Matt Williams, Nathan Robertson, Colin Gardyne, Jakub Sinkora

Substitutes: Tamati Williams, Michael Gwyther, Franpisek Mudrik, Ryan Young, Hindrich Hahn

Auckland

Ross Nicholson, Grant Young, Keryn Jordan, Matt Cunneen, Greg Uhlmann, Chad Coombes, Paul Seaman, Liam Mulrooney, James Pritchett, Jonathan Smith, Paul Urlovic

Substitutes: Jonathan Perry, Sam Wilkinson, Paul Vodanovich, Reg Davani, Neil Sykes

ODDS $9 DRAW $4.40 ODDS $1.30

Prediction:

Enthusiasm alone will not get the home side up against the NZFC leaders who dominated the first 50 minutes against Waitakere on Sunday and got home with a stoppage time winner. With little to show for their efforts thus far - and they certainly deserved better against Canterbury on Sunday - the home side will again struggle.

CANTERBURY UTD V MANAWATU

* English Park, Christchurch, Sunday 3pm.
Referee: Neil Fox

Canterbury

James Bannatyne, Daniel Terris, Ben Sigmund, Michael Lilley, Glen Collins, Brent Fisher, Brian Watret, Daniel Moir, Justin Lucas, Stuart Kelly, Andrew Barron

Substitutes: Chris Morris, Andy Pitman, Nic Tither, Michael White, Jordan Ashton

Manawatu

Michael Utting, Adam Cowan, Mark Tesar, Ian Robinson, Ian Sandbrook, Scott Robson, Commins Menapi, Campbell Banks, Michael Sands, Dalin Wilson, Nathan Hill

Substitutes: Hayden Englefield, Jared McElhannan, Nick Roydhouse, Josh Smith, Brent Argyle

ODDS $2.30 DRAW $3.20 ODDS $2.80

Prediction:

Manawatu continue to surprise and will be worth a look here against a Canterbury side who struggled against a plucky Waikato last time out. No frills, no nonsense but a steady stream of goals and points have made Manawatu the team to watch as the second phase of the season kicks-off. 
TEAM WELLINGTON V OTAGO UTD

* Newtown Park, Wellington, Sunday 4pm.
Referee: Allan Martin

Wellington

Dylan Hall, Adam Birch, Jamie Duncan, Andy Hedge, Karl Whalen, Matt Adams, Dan Keat, Wiremu Patrick, Bryan Little, Graham Little, David Johnston

Substitutes: Nick Tarrant, Peter Halstead, Sam Peters, Geoff Brown, Raf De Gregorio (if cleared)

Otago

Lutz Pfannenstiel, Craig Dale, Terry Boylan, Tim Horner, Ian Mandry, Brad Scott, Ryley Webster, Andy Coburn, Michael Eisenhut, Blair Scoullar, Francesco Caruso

Substitutes: Terry Phelan, John Chisholm, Will Morunga, Adam Letts, Rupesh Puna

ODDS $2.30 DRAW $3.20 ODDS $2.80

Prediction:

Should be close. Team Wellington were made to battle against Hawkes Bay and return to Newtown Park looking for something better. Otago got a valuable point away to Manawatu and should again be in this all the way with Francesco Caruso and Blair Scoullar leading an attack which will test the home defence.