Otago United faces another ambitious team when it plays Hawkes Bay at Forsyth Barr Stadium tomorrow.
The troubled Otago side badly needs a steady performance, after a string of injuries, suspensions and changes of team shape.
However, problems continue, with Scott Gannon suspended this week after his red card in the Canterbury match, and Joel Stevens still unavailable, due to a severe shoulder problem.
James Govan has a back problem and Ant Hancock is unavailable, so more reshuffling of personnel is likely to take place.
Otago coach Richard Murray has again named a large squad, due to niggling injuries, and will be without the local back-up of Otago's youth team, which plays in Nelson tomorrow.
Even at training sessions, Murray measures his team's readiness in metres of strapping tape, as physiotherapist Dusty Quinn makes running repairs to niggling injuries.
Key players Craig Ferguson, Aaron Burgess, Regan Coldicott and Andrew Ridden all have minor issues, and late decisions over team selections are likely.
The best parts of Otago's game are good enough to create goal-scoring chances, and Coldicott is in decent scoring form with five goals to his credit. The swift Mosgiel striker was this week included in the ASB Premiership team of the month.
From a deeper position, Burgess has been more effective in every game. Morgan Day makes his return to the squad and the feisty little Mosgiel midfielder could add some bite in a midfield that has so far lacked effective penetration.
There was some surprise last week that regular centreback Matt Joy was not in the starting XI. He, Jude Fitzpatrick and the experienced Tim Horner in front of goalkeeper Liam Little could form an effective hard core in defence.
The return to Dunedin of former favourite Harley Rodeka, in a Bay shirt, will surely raise a frustrated cheer at the stadium. Pundits will also have noticed that another talented former Otago player, Tristan Prattley, last week made his debut at left back for Waitakere United.
Third-placed Hawke's Bay has hit a rich vein of form with three wins and a draw in its last four games.
It could rise to second spot, if Waitakere downs Auckland and the Bay registers a win over Otago. It also needs just one more win to seal a first playoff berth, so coach Chris Greatholder and his team have everything to play for.
In the first round, Hawkes Bay beat Otago 2-0, both goals coming from Sean Lovemore. Otago showed enterprise, and twice hit the Bay woodwork through shots by Burgess and Coldicott.
There is a question mark over Lovemore playing this week, but Hawkes Bay will welcome back stalwart centreback Bill Robertson, alongside Ross Haviland, to add power in defence.
Greatholder said he had learned ''an unbelievable amount'' in his first season in charge.
''I thought, well, I played to a reasonable level, I grew up watching a lot of football at a decent standard in the UK. I analyse things - I'm an analyst in my job outside football - and I'm somewhat of a perfectionist.
''From thinking I knew a lot, I realised quickly I knew damn all. It's been a massive learning curve.''
Otago, of course will be keen to spoil Greatholder's party.
''Morale is still good, and the guys are training hard,'' Murray said.''
Otago v Hawkes Bay
Forsyth Barr Stadium, tomorrow, noon
Otago United: Liam Little, Jude Fitzpatrick, Matt Joy, Regan Coldicott, Seamus Ryder, Victor Da Costa, Sam Mepham, Tom Connor, Aajay Cunningham, Tim Horner (captain), Donnie Macgregor, Andy Ridden, Aaron Burgess, Zayne Officer, Morgan Day, Craig Ferguson.
Hawkes Bay: Richard Gillespie, Aaron Jones, Josh Margetts, Bill Robertson (captain), Stephen Hindmarch, Jarrod Smith, Stephen Hoyle, Harley Rodeka, Ross Haviland, Sean Lovemore, Fergus Neil, Dakota Lucas, Rudi Bauerfiend, Matt Bruin, Angus Kilkolly, Danyon Drake.
