Soccer: Playoff rivals brace for battle in crunch match

In their wildest dreams, New Zealand Soccer could not have stage-managed it better.

Down to the last of 21 rounds, the only contenders for the last Championship playoff spot available go head-to-head in a crunch match.

Napier City enjoy home advantage for their must-win clash with Waikato FC, but must overcome the loss of key defender and captain Jonathon Taylor to do it.

Taylor, suspended after a fourth yellow card, will leave a gaping hole in the City lineup but coach Charlie Howe is confident it can be filled.

"We are confident Matt Adams will do the job," he said. "He played central defender against Auckland City at Kiwitea St and did very well."

Howe is keen to extend his record with the City and its predecessor, Napier City Rovers.

"I've had four seasons here. If we win this one it will be the third time in the playoffs," said Howe. "We are looking forward to playing at Park Island after playing Waikato in Hamilton in our two earlier clashes."

Those matches were split one-all, with a two-goal winning margin in each.

Howe sees Waikato FC captain and pivotal defender Che Bunce as key.

"He is an enormous player and has a lot of good younger players around him. They are a dangerous side."

A draw tonight would be enough for Waikato FC to win through to a playoff semifinal clash with Waitakere United next Sunday.

But manager James Pamment wants none of that.

"We won't play for a draw. We will look to win and we know it will be the end of the season if we don't get a result," he said. "They're on a roll and we've hit a blip, but we can turn it around. It will be tough though."

Napier's Leon Birnie has a knee injury and has only a 50-50 chance of playing. With 13 goals, he will be keen to turn out to contend the golden boot race with the other hopefuls, Grant Young (Auckland City) and Keryn Jordan (Waitakere) - on 14 goals - and Paul Urlovic (Auckland) - on 13.