KEY POINTS:
The battle-within-a-battle promises to be the highlight of tomorrow's New Zealand Football Championship clash between leaders Waitakere United and contenders YoungHeart Manawatu at Trusts Stadium.
Manawatu have built their highly-successful season around a Solomon Island connection of runaway golden boot winner Benjamin Totori, midfielder Alick Maemae - who has also chipped in with half a dozen goals - and defensive kingpin Nelson Sale.
Tomorrow they tackle another from their homeland, with George Suri set to play a key role in the Waikatere defence.
Suri, who went home for a break over Christmas, missed last month's clash at the same ground - won 2-0 by United - but has since returned to his best form.
Against Auckland City last week, Suri and Danny Hay formed a stout partnership. While Hay then missed Tuesday's O-League win over AS Mont Dore, Suri backed up and again was in sparkling form.
Despite the demands of a third game in just seven days, Suri will be ready for Totori and his mates.
Waitakere, two points clear and within sight of the minor premiership, have much in their favour.
They have not conceded a goal in beating Shane Rufer's team in three matches this season - one pre-season and two in the championship. United and Manawatu swapped the early NZFC lead but, since Waitakere went clear, they have maintained a slender advantage.
And, unlike last month's clash when United coach Steve Cain struggled to find enough fit players to put out a team, he has few defections tomorrow. "Other than having Hone Fowler suspended and needing fitness tests on Craig Wylie and Hoani Edwards, we have no worries," said Cain. "That is a far cry from what we had around Christmas, when we had 10 players out."
Given the depth he now has in his squad, Cain has been able to juggle his players, so few will have had to play the 270 minutes of football on Waitakere's agenda this week.
His biggest conundrum is in making a call on who will play in goal.
In Michael Utting's enforced absence through injury, Simon Eaddy proved himself a more than adequate replacement.
With both available, Cain's choice promises to be a close one, with Utting perhaps slightly favoured after his strong game when he recently played against Manawatu - the team he played for last season .
Auckland City, too, must deal with a demanding third game in a week when they meet Waikato FC at Links Ave tomorrow. They will have less than 48 hours to bounce back after last night's O-League game against Mont Dore.
They also face the morning bus trip to Mt Maunganui and then a clash with a team coached by Roger Wilkinson who coached City for the early rounds this season.
"We haven't had an easy NZFC game since I've been in charge," said City coach Paul Marshall.
"But if we play to our potential and turn up on the day we should get home."
City will be without suspended defender Greg Uhlmann but will have captain Neil Sykes back after he missed last night's game, also through suspension.
In other 19th round games, both today, Canterbury United are at home to Team Wellington while Hawkes Bay travel to play Otago United.
