Still licking wounds from last week's heavy cup defeat, Mosgiel needs to get back on track against Dunedin Technical in the main game at the Caledonian Ground, but key figures such as player-coach Mike McGarry and striker Phil Kelly are struggling to maintain match fitness as niggling injuries accumulate.
Keeper Pat Howell rallied the side several times last week, his best save an unbelievable horizontal dive to beat away a penalty kick, and as chaos eventually reigned in Mosgiel's goal mouth, Howell bravely battled among the boots.
The big keeper should have more protection this week with the return of team captain Mike Abbott to add steel to the backline, and Tom Bekker's height will be another element.
If Mosgiel retains the ball better, it has a group of young players capable of testing Technical.
The likes of Luke Burgess, the Day brothers, Morgan and Curtis, flying wingers Reg Coldicott, Tim Dunn, and improving young defender Matt Brook, led by flamboyant striker Shayne Danielson, could severely test Technical.
Technical, coached by Mike Fridge, leads the competition, three points ahead of Caversham's 25, but has played an extra match.
New centreback Tim Myers has brought international class to Technical's backline, dovetailing a defence that has done little wrong, conceding only three goals in 10 matches thus far.
The return of striker Richard Smith also gives Fridge options to spread the burden if Aaron Burgess, Justin Flaws, Blair Scoullar or even Andy Coburn needed a spell.
Caversham has enough player depth to survive, but this week's wintry journey to Central Otago demands character, especially against Queenstown Rovers who are always stronger at home.
Fourth-placed Roslyn-Wakari faces a strong challenge from the team immediately below it on the table when Brazilian Luiz Ueharas' University side visits Ellis Park at 2.45pm.
In World Cup parlance, there is a solid group of four minnows log-jammed on 10 points on the FPL table - Queenstown, Northern, Grants Braes, Spirit FC - followed by bottom-placed Green Island.
At the Gardens at 2.45pm, Northern will be desperate to get clear of Spirit.
Grants Braes, at Sunnyvale, has a chance of reaching its highest FPL points tally if coach Alan Laidler's seasiders can beat Green Island.
