Southern United coach Mike Fridge has signed two new players ahead of tomorrow's match against defending champion Auckland City.
Shawn O'Brien, of Christchurch, and Aucklander Jack Caunter have been brought in to replace former captain Matt Joy and midfielder Tim McLennan.
Joy is joining the police force and McLennan has gone overseas.
Both O'Brien and Caunter can play at the back and in the midfield, and have been named in the squad for the daunting match against table-topping Auckland City.
O'Brien will continue to live in Christchurch and train there with fellow Cantabrian Stu Kelly, while Caunter will be based in Auckland and train there.
"We're trying to replace the players we have lost,'' Fridge said.
"The transfer window is still open until Wednesday, so we're always wheeling and dealing if there might be some more players we are able to bring in.''
Southern United has also lost Scottish striker Tom McBride, who is moving to Australia shortly.
In a "blow'' ahead of tomorrow's first game after the Christmas break, striker Sam French has been ruled out due to a hamstring injury.
He initially picked up the injury against Wellington last month and missed the final game before Christmas against Canterbury United.
French trained on Tuesday and Wednesday night and was on track to play tomorrow.
However, he tweaked it at training on Thursday night and has been scratched.
Midfielder Rhys Ruka, who has not recovered from an ankle injury in the game against Canterbury, is the only other player out due to injury.
But the midfield has been further depleted by the unavailability of Tom Connor and Morgan Day, who could not get off work with the team not arriving back in Dunedin until Monday morning.
That has opened the door for midfielder Hamish Cotter, who helped the Southern youth team finish second in the national youth league last year.
He had a fine campaign, and along with four other youth players, has been training with the senior team this week.
Youth goalkeeper Josh Dijkstra has also been named in the team, which will be captained by Seamus Ryder.
"As I've always said, when one door closes, another one opens,'' Fridge said.
Despite the "massive challenge'' against Auckland City, the second-year coach is relishing the task his bottom-of-the-table team faces.
"It's a difficult task, it's the home of the champions. But you want to play in big games of football, so hopefully we will go up there and do well,'' he said.
"In an ideal situation, it's not the place you want to go in the first game back after the break, especially when you have got players unavailable for whatever reason.
"I know whoever wears the Southern United shirt will give 100%.''
Tomorrow's match will be televised live on Sky Sport.
Southern Utd v Auckland
Auckland, tomorrow, 4.35pm
Southern United: Tom Batty, Ross Howard, Shawn O'Brien, Jude Fitzpatrick, Jack Caunter, Seamus Ryder (captain), Andrew Ridden, Stu Kelly, Harley Rodeka, Josh Stewart, Tristan Prattley, Alex Williams, Michael Hogan, Regan Coldicott, Hamish Cotter, Josh Dijkstra.
Auckland City (probable): Danyon Drake, Mario Bilen, Angel Berlanga, Jesse Edge, Mikel Alvaro, Ryan de Vries, Te Atawhai Hudson-Wihongi, Alfie Rogers, Dae Wook Kim, Micah Lea'alafa, Emiliano Tade, Liam Anderson, Michael Den Heijer, Darren White, Clayton Lewis, Nathanael Hailemariam.
