Otago United will have to produce its best for tomorrow's New Zealand Football Championship match against Wellington in the capital.
Coach Terry Phelan's large squad has shrunk with the unavailability through suspension of Robbie Deeley and Rhys Henderson, who were red carded against Waikato two weeks ago.
Despite having had a free weekend, the squad has accumulated a series of injuries, with strikers David Dugdale, Tom Jackson and Sean Brand all receiving physiotherapy treatment.
Blair Scoullar is also still sidelined through injury, but John Chisholm returns in defence and Phelan is confident he has reserves capable of putting in a strong shift against Wellington.
Stu Kelly, the new midfield signing from Canterbury, is also likely to get a run, and has the class to open up a Wellington defence which has conceded more than two goals per match.
Sole remaining striker Aaron Burgess hopes Dugdale will make a late recovery, since their developing partnership in attack has been one of the brighter aspects this season.
Otago starts as underdog with a record of only one win over Wellington in 12 matches, and coach Stu Jacobs' side scored nine goals against Otago in three matches last season.
However, Wellington will be without Jacobs, since the coach and four of his squad, Sam Blackburn, Jake Gleeson, Mike Pickering and Michael Eagar, will be on Junior All Whites duty in Tahiti.
Replacements will be Craig Alderdice, Allen Chote and young Lower Hutt keeper James McPeake, while captain Adam Birch continues his return from injury and Jeremy Brockie is still sidelined.
Assistant coach Charlie Howe said Wellington intended to attack.
"With players like Bryan Little, Luis Corrales and Pedro Garcias in our side, why wouldn't we adopt that philosophy? The league's a lot shorter this year so we've got to take any advantage we can in the first half of the season, because it'll be uphill in the second half if we don't."
Phelan also realises the value of earning at least four points from the next two matches to stay in the hunt for a top four placing.
"It's like playing a cracked record, though. We know that the team can play good football, but we still suffer from lapses in concentration that have cost valuable points.
"We have been in front in most games, yet conceded silly goals that have really hurt us. It's schoolboy stuff, really. We have been working hard on communication at training, and I am looking for improvement this week. We don't need to dig ourselves a big hole to climb out of after Christmas break."
Otago v Wellington
Wellington, tomorrow, 4pm
Otago United: Liam Little, Tristan Prattley, Barry Gardiner, Colin Falvey, Mike Smith, Tom Jackson, David Dugdale, Andy Coburn, Aaron Burgess, Callum Flaws, Sean Brand, Tom Connor, Tim Horner, Stuart Kelly, John Chisholm.
Wellington: Phil Imray, Peter Howe, Ross McKenzie, Luis Corrales, Brian Little, Karl Whalen, Sam Jenkins, Allen Chote, Pedro Garcias, Peter Halstead, Craig Alderdice, Tim Schaeffers, Adam Birch (captain), James McPeake, Paul Whitmarsh.
