Soccer: Waitakere hope to arrest the slide

It's payback time for Waitakere United when they pit themselves against Hawkes Bay United tomorrow.

The 1-0 win Hawkes Bay scored in the first series in the second round of the New Zealand Football Championship is their only win in 13 games.

It was that game in which Richie Cardozo copped a two-match ban for retaliation, signalling the start of the slide for Waitakere.

In five matches since, Waitakere have won once and slipped off the pace as the race for play-off spots heats up.

It will be no easier for Steve Cain at Trusts Stadium tomorrow.

They have lost George Suri and Craig Wylie to suspension, Chris Jackson (overseas) and Steve Callinan (injury) but have Jake Butler and Shannon Cole back from injury and Ben Steward after a suspension.

"We also have Hone Fowler back after missing last Sunday's game for family reasons," said Cain. "It will be a case of seeing how everyone shapes up and taking it from there.

"Making the top five is the most important thing now ... It would be good to finish fourth as that would give us home [play-off] advantage."

Waitakere are fuming over the decision that cost them two points last Sunday when linesman Jan Hintz ruled against Simon Eaddy in saving a penalty and subsequent replays suggest the team were hard done by.

Hawkes Bay go into the match at the ridiculously long odds of $12 - which will only add to coach Jonathan Gould's resolve to make it two in a row against Waitakere after a loss and a win in early matches at Park Island.

Leaders Auckland City head to uncharted territory for their match with Waikato FC.

"I have never been to the International Stadium in Rotorua," said City coach Allan Jones. "I have heard the surface is very good ... We will be taking a large squad down as we still have injury concerns over James Pritchett and Paul Urlovic."

Jones has Grant Young back for a match he describes as one in which "you would not want to drop points".

In other matches tomorrow, YoungHeart Manawatu return to base to play Canterbury United in the match of the day, with second place at stake, and Otago are at home to Team Wellington who surely will turn it around soon.