KEY POINTS:
In his 40-something years, Otago United coach Terry Phelan has seen it all, both as a player and coach. No surprise then that nothing appears to faze him, not even the long trip north to play pace-setting Auckland City.
"I always like to come to Auckland," said Phelan as he prepared for tomorrow's ninth-round opener at the Croatian Cultural Society's Henderson ground. "With the players [City coach] Colin Tuaa has out, it will be interesting but, at the end of the day, they have got a good enough squad to cover any losses."
City will be without many of their players who have provided the attacking impetus this season. Top goalscorer Bryan Little is out and so is Keryn Jordan. Henry Fa'arodo is headed to the Victorian State League and Eliezer Anello is back in Argentina.
"I would die to have players like that," said Phelan. "But we haven't. It is still 11 v 11 and we are going up to enjoy the occasion. I have heard about the ground and look forward to playing there but really, a game of football is about two nets and two lines."
On their last trip to Auckland, a month ago when they played Waitakere United at Fred Taylor Park, Phelan and his players copped plenty for their negative 10-men-behind-the-ball approach.
He does not regret such tactics.
"We don't want to be negative and I will be telling the lads to go out and enjoy themselves but in some situations you have to play football which might not be seen as attractive.
"We want to take the game to Auckland but we might not be good enough. It is not easy down here."
Phelan said he had been on the receiving end of plenty including during his time as an FA Cup medal winner playing at Wimbledon.
"We have to build a new team every season. But I can tell you, we are trying our best. The win over Canterbury in our last game was a great morale-booster. It was great for the lads. It was one of the biggest games I have played in my career. We treated it like a European Cup tie and came away with a 2-0 win."
The victory ended a 24-game winless stretch.
"We are not Auckland City, Waitakere United, Team Wellington or even Hawkes Bay United. We can't attract the players they can but I have got a hard-working bunch of lads who are doing their very best for the team and themselves."
In the earlier game this season, City won 2-0 at Carisbrook.
"We haven't been good enough, I'll admit that, but in that game it was our fault we lost; that doesn't mean we won't be trying our best. If anyone thinks they can come down here and do better they are welcome to come and see what we are doing."
Otago failed to score in their first four outings of the season. They have scored a goal per game since.
City will be flat out to win and become the first team to notch 50 wins in regular season NZFC games.
Waitakere, away to Canterbury United on Sunday, are also chasing a record. They have won five on the trot and need another for a club-record sixth which would also take them to within one of City's NZFC record of seven successive victories.
United will be without Neil Sykes and captain Danny Hay for the trip south but should still be too strong for the winless southerners.
Team Wellington are at home to Waikato FC in a game which promises plenty of action.
In first-round matches against the big three, Waikato lost 0-1, 1-2 and 2-3 to Waitakere, Wellington and Auckland respectively but have not won since early December when they beat Otago 3-1 in Hamilton.
YoungHeart Manawatu have not been beaten in their last seven clashes with neighbours Hawkes Bay United. Smarting from their 8-0 thrashing by Team Wellington last time out - double their previous worst loss - Manawatu will be hoping home advantage will be the difference this time.
