Soccer: NZFC weekly predictions

CANTERBURY UNITED V AUCKLAND CITY

* QEII Stadium, Christchurch, Sunday 1pm
Referee: Allan Martin

Canterbury United

Jordan Ashton, Daniel Terris, Ben Sigmund, Glen Collins, Brian Watret, Daniel Moir, Andy Pitman, Nic Tither, Justin Lucas, Michael White, Stuart Kelly

Substitutes

Gerard Brown, Deane Hutchinson, James Reichweinn, Jack Pelter, Matt Boyd

Auckland City

Paul Seaman, Jonathan Perry, L. Mulrooney/G. Uhlmann, Richard Gillespie, Riki Van Steeden, Jonathan Smith, P. Urlovic/C. Coombes, Reg Davani, Neil Sykes, Paul Vodanovich, Matt Cunneen

Substitutes

Nick Hyde, Ricky Broderson, Luiz Del Monte, Jacob Spoonley, Michael Bell

ODDS $2.65 DRAW $3.20 ODDS $2.40

Prediction: City coach Allan Jones insists they are not a one-man band and life goes on without Keryn Jordan. Throw the absence of Grant Young into the mix and he still comes up smiling, pointing to Paul Urlovic and Reg Davani. Who would argue? The loss of All Whites will hurt both teams but City can still expect to sneak home.

WAITAKERE UNITED V OTAGO UNITED

* Trusts Stadium, Henderson Sunday 2pm

Referee: Jamie Cross

Waitakere United

Simon Eaddy, Sean Douglas, Shannon Cole, Ben Hall, George Suri, Chris Jackson, Jake Butler, Richie Cardozo, Stuart Hogg, Dean Storey, Daniel Ellensohn

Substitutes

Not supplied

Otago United

Lutz Pfannenstiel, Michael Abbott, Tim Horner, Uliks Kotrri, Ian Mandry, Andy Coburn, John Chisholm, Ryley Webster, Michael Eisenhut, Blair Scoullar, Francesco Caruso

Substitutes

Will Morunga, Brad Scott, Craig Dale, Jim Letts, Robbie Deeley, Michael Cunningham

ODDS $1.90 DRAW $3.20 ODDS $3.75

Prediction: Back home, Waitakere might fare better than they did down the road a week ago. They would have to be a lot better, though. Otago are still hanging about in the play-off race and will have targeted this one as a game they must win. Draw.

YOUNGHEART MANAWATU V HAWKES BAY

* The Arena, Palmerston North Sunday 2pm

Referee: Kevin Stoltenkamp

YoungHeart Manawatu

Hayden Englefield, Sanjay Singh, J. McElhannan/A. Maemae, Mark Tesar, Adam Cowan, N. Cooksley/D. Wilson, Ian Robinson, Ian Sandbrook, Nathan Hill, Commins Menapi, Benjamin Totori

Substitutes

Brent Argyle, Glen Fraser, Scott Robson, Tahu Kotua, Corey Chettleburg

Hawkes Bay

Mitch O'Brien, Wayne Atkins, Graham Fyfe, Jason Hayne, Dean Johnston, Shaun Easthope, Nick Lucas, Sam Jenkins, Jamie Farrington, Ross Goodacre, Martin Akers

Substitutes

Nathan Holten, David Geary, Chris Greatholder, Robbie Hunter, Scott Dunn,

Willie Stanger

ODDS $1.30 DRAW $4.20 ODDS $10

Prediction: Colin's mob won't want to let this one slip after failing to score a goal and picking up just one point in the deep south. In something close to their better form, Manawatu should pocket the points and hold second. If City does the business in Christchurch their advantage over Canterbury could stretch to six.

TEAM WELLINGTON V WAIKATO FC

* Newtown Park, Wellington Sunday 3pm

Referee: Steve Fletcher

Team Wellington

Dylan Hall, Steven Gulley, Karl Whalen, Michael Smith, Adam Birch, Matt Adams, David Johnston, Wiremu Patrick, Bryan Little, Graham Little, Peter Halstead

Substitutes

Nick Tarrant, Costa Barbarouses, Michael Eager, Jamie Duncan, Geoff Brown

Waikato FC

Tamati Williams, Brent Mayhew, LJ Pijnenburg, Aaron Scott, Paul Caton, Danny Donegan, Andrew Foskett, Jakub Sinkora, Nathan Robertson, Colin Gardyne, Michael Gwyther

Substitutes

Che Bunce, Stu Watene, Adam Crump, Hindrich Hahn, Franpisek Mudrik

ODDS $1.65 DRAW $3.30 ODDS $4.85

Prediction: The boys from the Capital need these points and should do the trick, especially after a solid effort away to the Bay last week. Waikato continue to mix their form but have lost only one recently - 2-1 to Canterbury away last week. They will test Team Wellington and could grab a point.