It is another chance for Otago United coach Richard Murray to experiment with his line-up when Wellington arrives for a White Ribbon Cup match at Tahuna Park tomorrow.
Injury clouds hang over in-form midfielder Seamus Ryder, and Jose Cantillo has a shoulder problem and will also require a late fitness test.
Otago needs top form from frontrunners Regan Coldicott, Ant Hancock and Harley Rodeka to get the goals it needs to advance to the cup final, and also steady performances in defence.
Both Otago and Wellington meet after defeats in the ASB Premiership. The southerners suffered back-to-back derby defeats by Canterbury, while the men from the capital were beaten 3-1 by a resurgent Waitakere United last Sunday.
A draw is good enough for Wellington to advance to the final while a 2-0 win for Otago would draw the teams level on points, and on goal difference.
According to New Zealand Football, that would allow Otago to advance to the final, on a head-to-head result.
The chances of that happening appear questionable, with Otago United's last win back on December 11. Wellington will be eager to get back on track after a 3-1 beating at Fred Taylor Park and stay on course for a shot at silverware.
In the northern conference, Hawkes Bay United takes on Manawatu at Bluewater Stadium in Napier, in a match that gives both coaches plenty to think about.
Bay coach Chris Greatholder has one eye on capturing a first trophy win at this level. But to do that, Greatholder's team must rack up a big win and then hope Manawatu recovers sufficiently in the final match with Waikato to open the door to the White Ribbon final.
Manawatu is buoyant after a 1-1 draw with Waikato in the league last weekend but it is difficult to know whether this represents an overall change of fortune. Seule Soromon and Jordan Martens both return to the squad, and coach Stu Jacobs is also back, after a short trip overseas.
An upset win for the visitor would effectively set up a semifinal with Waikato in the final group match on March 17 in Palmerston North.
Introduced to give the six clubs not involved in the O-League competitive football, where gaps previously existed in the season, the new cup competition supports White Ribbon, a campaign to raise awareness of men's violence against women.
Otago v Wellington
Tahuna Park, tomorrow, 2pm
Otago United: Oswaldo Rodriguez, Tristan Prattley (captain), Jude Fitzpatrick, Matt Joy, Morgan Day, Regan Coldicott, Seamus Ryder, Donnie MacGregor, Ant Hancock, James Govan, Sam Mepham, Harley Rodeka, Matt Brook, Jose Cantillo, Peter Evans, Andrew Ridden, Craig Ferguson, James Watson, Aajay Cunningham.
Wellington: Phil Imray, Tim Schaeffers, Jamie Duncan, Michael Eagar, Johnny Raj, Darren Cheriton, Wiremu Patrick, Patrick Fleming, Dakota Lucas, Henry Fa'arodo, Ethan Galbraith, Karl Whalen, Sam Mason-Smith, Dominic Rowe, Michael Fifii, Luke Rowe, Justin Gulley, Louis Fenton, Scott Basalaj.
