Mind games have been as important as physical sessions at Otago United training this week as coach Terry Phelan tries to rectify the team's psyche for tomorrow's match at Sunnyvale.
The game against Hawkes Bay starts at 1pm, but Phelan's concern usually bubbles over an hour later, when lapses in concentration in the latter stages of recent matches have cost Otago dearly.
"We have not been outplayed by anybody this season, including Auckland, where I thought we were worth a draw instead of a one-goal loss," he said.
"In three games, we have scored first, and that's the hard bit, then chucked away our advantage through poor concentration.
"We were all over Wellington and should have been two or three goals ahead, but it was only 1-0 in the last few minutes, and predictably they came storming forward with nothing to lose.
Bad enough that some schoolboy defending cost us the equaliser, but we might have lost the lot.
I don't know how Wellington missed that chance in the final seconds that would have given them three points."
Phelan also has to consider last week's calf injury that has sidelined striker Aaron Burgess, and still on the physio table is Blair Scoullar.
Returning from suspension, defender Rhys Henderson gets a start, but Robbie Deeley, who is available, will watch from Sunnyvale's grassy grandstand.
Stu Kelly made a stellar debut for Otago last week when the Scot pounced on a poor goalkick from Wellington keeper Phil Imray and laced a 35m goal to open his and Otago's account.
Phelan said Kelly's goal was excellent and the range and variety of his passes were excellent.
Not for the first time, Otago is looking down the barrel with only one win over Hawkes Bay in the last five outings.
Bay coach Jonathan Gould said Otago might fancy its chances.
"They have just taken a big point off Wellington.
They will be organised, fit and from all the information we are receiving, willing to play.
We would love to go into the Christmas break in touch with the top and we therefore need to be very positive going into this game."
Since he is still in Tahiti with New Zealand's Under-20 side, Gould's place will be taken by assistant Matt Chandler.
Both teams need to win to keep alive hopes of making the top four.
