Hockey: Auckland women need win to keep top-four hopes alive

Auckland women's coach Grant Rumble has not given up on a top-four finish just yet but knows the odds are stacked against his team, who once ruled the NHL roost.

Boosted by the return of veteran Tina Ball-Kake - in as cover while the Black Sticks are on duty in India - Auckland just got up against the spirited Northlanders last weekend. They will be looking for more of the same in Tauranga tomorrow against bottom-of-the-table Midlands.

"We have struggled defensively," said Rumble.

"With Kate Saunders and Krystal Forgesson away with the Black Sticks, we have lost our penalty corner hitters as well.

"We know a win this weekend will keep our hopes alive and that it could still come down to the game between us and North Harbour in Christchurch in the last round to find the fourth semifinalist."

But tomorrow Auckland are further weakened with Lucy Talbot and Katie Glynn away with the Tiger Turf squad.

North Harbour have their penultimate round-robin match in Whangarei tomorrow.

They will find it no easier than Auckland did on the trip north.

In Lizzy Igasan, like her sister Connie and Harbour captain Paula Enoka (a former Northlander), North Harbour have the player most likely to influence the outcome of any game.

The key clash tomorrow will be in Levin, where leaders Wellington, without influential captain Suzie Muirhead, meet defending champions Central, also missing key players.

Central have won four-from-four but had one game postponed. They go into this one aware victory could take them to the top of the table.

Wins for the top four teams on the men's points table will virtually shut the bottom four out of semifinal contention.

The match of the day should be in Whangarei, where defending champions North Harbour meet the ever-likely Northland side who take an uncompromising approach into every game.

Harbour are struggling with injuries.

Player-coach Darren Smith is out for the season with a leg injury; international striker and last season's leading goalscorer, Dave Kosoof, is sidelined with a groin injury; replacement player Sam Bartholomew is hampered by a back injury; and striker Simon Brill copped a ball in the face at training and has a suspected broken nose.

"Even without these injuries it was always going to be tough against Northland," said Harbour manager-assistant coach Campbell Stewart.

"We won't know who will be available until Saturday at the earliest."

Auckland, who share the lead with North Harbour, are away to Midlands and should take the points from a team who held Harbour for periods in last Saturday's game but lacked the firepower to maintain that intensity for 70 minutes.

Boosted by the arrival of Australians Brent Livermore and Mike McCann, Wellington should be too strong for Central in Levin.