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Auckland's footballing public get a rare chance to see the A-League's leading goal-scorer in action when Shane Smeltz steps out for the Wellington Phoenix against Japan-bound Waitakere United at Trusts Stadium tomorrow.
Phoenix coach Ricki Herbert could not confirm his starting XI yesterday but said the entire squad would travel north and most, including Smeltz, would see some action in the Cue Sports Challenge, the major preparation before Waitakere head to China on December 3 for another warm-up game three days later.
With their 2-0 win (5-0 on aggregate) over Adelaide United on Wednesday, Japan's Gamba Osaka won the Asian Champions League and booked their place in the second round of the Fifa World Club Cup.
Adelaide will now play Waitakere in Tokyo in the tournament opener on December 11 with the winner to play Gamba Osaka three days later. Herbert said: "It is the chance for us to come up and help Waitakere out. The club is excited about the chance to play in Auckland and all the players want to play.
"We have come back from Sydney with injuries to Tim Brown, Andrew Durante and Leilei Gao so I will have to wait and see how they are before naming a team. I will probably give [goalkeepers] Glen Moss and Mark Paston half a game each."
The Phoenix players will also conduct a two-hour coaching session tomorrow morning as part of the promotion which kicks off a busy weekend including the final of Fifa's Under-17 Women's World Cup.
In New Zealand Football Championship action, Auckland City will seek to build on their promising start when they travel to play Waikato FC in the first game at this level at Ngaruawahia's Centennial Park. With Keryn Jordan and Grant Young again leading the charge, City showed some good signs against Otago in their opener at Kiwitea St.
Coach Colin Tuaa gave his players a pass mark but will be looking for a step up against a Waikato side who have had to overcome the odds just to put a team out.
Dave Edmondson-coached Waikato gave plenty of cheek on the trip to Napier. Another battling effort, in front of what promises to be a festive crowd, could upset the odds and give their season a decent early kick-along.
Injuries are making an impact at City but with a couple of big games coming up - the NZFC clash with Waitakere on November 26 and their O-League game with Vanuatu's Port Vila Sharks on December 13 - Tuaa will want to get through these early NZFC encounters without too many more.
With the truncated schedule, the early games become vital. The remaining two second-round games will be played in Palmerston North today - YoungHeart Manawatu against Team Wellington - and Dunedin tomorrow when Otago United host Canterbury United.
