KEY POINTS:
Two of the young guns may well hold the key to what could be a New Zealand Football Championship season-deciding match for Auckland City against arch-rivals Waitakere United tomorrow.
Both teams have problems. City have lost Grant Young to retirement, United have Allan Pearce sidelined through injury.
City have back-up in Keryn Jordan and Paul Urlovic, their rivals look to Daniel Kopricvic, Roy Krishna and Benjamin Totori but when the need arises and coaches Paul Posa and Chris Milicich go to the bench youngsters Milos Nikolic and Kayne Vincent get their chance.
Opponents from their school days when on opposite sides of the most bitter rivalry - the regular battles between Auckland and Mt Albert Grammar schools - the pair are seen as attackers on the rise.
There is an international flavour in this one as well.
Nikolic was born in Serbia and has been in New Zealand for 12 of his 19 years. Vincent was born in Auckland, his father a former New Zealand judo representative, his mother Japanese. Vincent has played in Japan's J-League.
Both have played for the New Zealand at under-20 level.
At school Nikolic played under Jimmy Hogg, Vincent under Kevin Fallon.
Nikolic, enjoying his time under new Auckland City coach Posa, is working his football around his studies at Auckland University - but does not dismiss looking offshore for soccer opportunities.
"There has been a bit of interest," said Nikolic. "But I'll wait until the end of the NZFC season before considering anything.
"I'm happy here at the moment. I'm enjoying my training under Paul Posa. He makes you feel comfortable and more relaxed. It is a different pressure than I had under Kevin Fallon at MAGS."
He did, however, give Fallon credit for improving his technique and getting him into a sound training ethic.
Nikolic says he has learned "plenty" from playing alongside Jordan and Urlovic and, last [winter] season with Young at Central United.
Vincent has yet to score in the NZFC but did manage a goal in one of the three J-League matches he did play in his time in Osaka and Tottori.
"I had mixed emotions about coming home," said Vincent. "My grandmother was sick and I wanted to spend time with her before she died. While I was here Waitakere offered me the chance to play which I was keen to accept as they were going to Japan for the Club World Cup."
His parents flew to Tokyo to see his appearance off the bench in the commendable effort against Adelaide United.
Vincent was selected for the New Zealand Secondary Schools team to go to Europe in 2006 but opted out to go to Japan for trials.
Both have targeted tomorrow's game as must-win.
City lost 2-1 at home to United in round three and have lost twice since but still lead Waitakere by a point as United have two games in hand.
"We want to win this one," said Nikolic. "We need to put the pressure on them and show we are the best team."
Vincent too has the same ambitions as Waitakere head into a tough double-header with a catch-up against Waikato FC, also at Trusts Stadium, two days later.
"Obviously," said Vincent, "this is the one we always want to win."
