Waitakere coach Neil Emblen sits at the top of the ASB Premiership with an intimidating perfect record of seven wins from seven, and has only conceded four goals this season.
Otago coach Malcolm Fleming's 2011 wish list includes better ball possession, and more consistency, although at its best, Otago has played some exciting attacking football this season, he said.
The leadership of Andy Coburn will be sorely missed, the midfielder suspended after attracting a red card in the last match against Wellington.
That match, a 5-0 defeat also provides a New Year hangover that will take more than aspirins to cure, but Fleming is sure that his side can bounce back.
"Waitakere will be a test of where we are now. We have to hit instant top form against the best team in the country, and I am looking for a big farewell match from Nathan Knox who heads for Oz due to work reasons," said Fleming.
Knox has been Otago's top form player this season. The rangy tall striker has been adaptable enough to play several roles, including midfield, for Fleming.
With a touch like proverbial glue, Knox combined his high energy game with aggressive tackling and incisive running, never more so than when he scored a late winner to beat Canterbury 2-1 at Tahuna Park in December.
Veteran Paul Seaman will also be out to hit top form against his old club, and his physical presence will be an important factor in what could be a young Otago team.
Otago will also need a top match from goalkeeper Adam Highfield, and the tall experienced custodian is more than capable of producing a clean sheet, despite Waitakere's strike rate of more than two goals per match.
Mosgiel's Morgan Day returns to the Otago squad, with Roslyn's Sam Mepham also a contender, as younger Youth National League players compete for places in next week's compressed fixtures of Waikato at the weekend then a midweek fixture against the Phoenix reserve side.
Waitakere shook loose any holiday lethargy with a 3-0 win over NZ under-17 last week, but will be without veterans Martin Bullock and Neil Sykes, still sidelined with injury, and also missing will be youngsters Ryan de Vries and Sean Lovemore.
Apart from Coburn, Otago will be at full strength for this demanding match.
