Southern United has been dealt a ‘‘big blow'' before its ASB Premiership match against WaiBOP United in Hamilton tonight.
Goalkeeper Tom Batty has been ruled out of the match due to work commitments, as the team leaves this morning and does not return to Dunedin until late tomorrow morning.
Players also had to take time off work on Monday, after the team's 3-1 loss to Auckland City in Auckland on Sunday.
Batty, an electrician, is arguably the best goalkeeper in the league and will no doubt be missed against fifth-placed WaiBOP United.
‘‘That is what happens when there is work commitments and they are amateur players,'' Southern United coach Mike Fridge said.
‘‘It's a big ask having these two trips within the space of five days.''
Zane Green will start in goal in place of Batty, while Southern youth goalkeeper Josh Dijkstra is on the bench for the second straight week.
Midfielder Tom Connor, who was unavailable for Sunday's game, will also miss the game because he cannot get off work.
Striker Sam French will miss a third consecutive game with the hamstring injury he picked up against Wellington last month.
He was expected to play in Auckland at the weekend but he tweaked the injury at training last Thursday night.
Southern United has also lost Rhys Ruka for the rest of the season. The midfielder has signed with a Cook Islands club bidding to qualify for the world club championships, Fridge said.
The team trained on Tuesday night and held a light session to ‘‘work on one or two things'' last night.
Striker Lewis Jackson, former Southern United captain Tom Jackson's brother, has been named in the squad for tonight's game and could make his senior debut.
He scored eight goals for the youth team, which finished second in the national league last year.
Southern United can surpass Wellington Phoenix and get off the bottom of the table if it records its second win of the season, while the host can keep the pressure on the top four if it manages its fourth win.
‘‘It's a big game because if we can win, we will climb off the bottom of the ladder,'' Fridge said.
‘‘We would go above the Phoenix and be level with Waitakere United. We want to try and get off the bottom of the table, especially because the Phoenix and Waitakere play on Sunday. Something has got to give there.''
WaiBop United, which beat Wellington Phoenix 4-3 in a thrilling match last Thursday night, edged Southern United 2-1 when the teams met at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin early last month.
Southern United conceded two soft goals in the loss and missed a golden opportunity to equalise in the dying stages.
Tonight's match will be televised live on Sky Sport at 7.35pm.
Southern Utd v WaiBOP Utd
Hamilton, tonight, 7.35pm
Southern United: Zane Green, Ross Howard, Shawn O'Brien, Jude Fitzpatrick, Jack Caunter, Seamus Ryder (captain), Andrew Ridden, Lewis Jackson, Stu Kelly, Harley Rodeka, Josh Stewart, Tristan Prattley, Michael Hogan, Regan Coldicott, Morgan Day, Josh Dijkstra.
WaiBOP United (probable): Louie Caunter, Scott Hilliar, Finn Cochran, Tyler Lissette, Adam Mitchell, Mark Jones, Ryan Tinsley, Mario Ilich, Stephen Hoyle, Alexis Varela, Wade Molony, Zac Speedy, Dylan Stansfield, Federico Marque, James Hoyle, Cory Mitchell.
