Coach Luiz Uehara used last weekend to organise a practice match at Tahuna Park against an Invitation XI, which gave United much-needed game time.
Yet, as is sometimes the case, the match created more questions than answers, and it is a new-look United with several changes as Uehara seeks his first win of the season.
Missing Southern regulars are top-scorer Regan Coldicott and Aajay Cunningham, while centreback Peter Overmire is promoted to captain and will adopt a new free role, as Matt Joy marks tight.
United has leaked 16 goals in five matches, which may have coloured Uehara's tightening of the defence, and the team's tally of one goal per game may result in a changed formation up front.
Candidates to partner Brazilian striker Henrique Viana could be Peter Rae, the underrated Dan Morris, or impressive youngster Taylor McCormack.
A positive move could be moving Andrew Ridden into an attacking midfield role, in the hole just behind the strikers.
Southern's coaching group will have targeted a win in this match against what is ostensibly a national youth side preparing for the Under-20 World Cup in 2015.
But why the name Wanderers? And what does SC stand for? Coach Darren Bazeley recently revealed it stood for ''Special Club''.
''That's as opposed to the usual FC,'' he said.
''It acknowledges this team has arisen out of a special situation and was specially formed for the purpose.''
The Wanderers name was chosen to distance it from being an official national squad, given there are players in other parts of the country also eligible for the national age group team.
The present Wanderers squad has 10 players from last year's ill-fated Under-17 World Cup, where there were losses to Uruguay (7-0), Italy (1-0) and Ivory Coast (3-0).
Bazeley is at the helm of the team which replaced Manawatu and is the third Auckland-based side in the ASB Premiership, calling North Harbour Stadium home.
The Wanderers team has gained a reputation for resilience after snatching late draws against Canterbury (2-2), and Waikato-BOP (3-3), and is two points above bottom-placed Southern United after four games.
Bazeley, who played professionally for Walsall, Wolves and Watford, will have his side organised and mobile, and it has shown a capacity to rescue results with late goals, implying top fitness.
Still unfazed, Southern's Uehara insists the underwhelming nature of this season's results has not caused him undue concern and his youthful group of players remains on course to fulfill his long-term plans for the franchise.
''We are focused mainly on the quality of the performances at the moment,'' Uehara said.
''Unfortunately, people only want to look at the results but that is not what it is about for us. When I took on the job I said that we were not good enough right now but that we have a lot of potential.''
Tomorrow's game could be decided by ''personality'', the Brazilian coach said.
''We must try to impose ourselves on this younger team, minimise mistakes and take up our goal-scoring chances.''
The non-travelling players will help prepare United's youth side with a match at Tahuna Park today. The youth team, coached by Mike McGarry and Andrew Brook, plays its first national league game against Nelson on January 12 at Tahuna Park.
ASB Premiership: North Harbour, tomorrow, 2pm
Southern United: Tom Batty, David Hayman, Nick Hindson, Peter Overmire, Matt Joy, Henry Flood, Sam Mepham, Taylor McCormack, Peter Rae, Henrique Viana, Morgan Day, Dan Morris, Campbell Higgins, Jacob Schneider, Andrew Ridden, Campbell Attwood.
Wanderers SC: Damian Hirst, Brock Messenger, Deklan Wynne, Andre De Jong, Adam Mitchell, Reilly O'Meagher, Nick Sugden, Michael De Heijer, Elijah Neblett, Ben Thomas, Stuart Holthusen, Cameron Hogg, Finn Cochrane, Cory Brown, Scott Doney, Judd Baker, Nathan Buswell, Riley Kelliher, Zac Speedy, Daniel Bowkett.
