If all goes well tomorrow Dunedin could have two clubs through to the quarterfinals of the Chatham Cup.
Footballsouth Premier League leader Caversham will host Cashmere Technical in a fourth round match at Tonga Park, and Dunedin Technical will met Western at Tahuna Park.
Arguably, Caversham has the harder assignment. Cashmere Technical had an impressive 2-0 win against Nelson Suburbs in Nelson and is in third place in the Mainland Premier League.
Caversham will be missing Ben Hawkey, Anton Ross and Tyler Collings, who are sidelined with injuries.
Seamus Ryder (overseas) and Matt Bruin are also unavailable.
Goalkeeper Liam Little, Ant Hancock, Evan Jones and captain Harley Rodeka have been named in the squad but will need to prove their fitness.
Despite the setbacks, the mood in the Caversham camp is optimistic.
The club has been buoyed by its 3-1 win against Dunedin Technical in a league match at the weekend.
"We've got a fair few injuries but we're still confident," coach Richard Murray said.
"We've had some tough games in the last couple of weeks which has been really beneficial.
"It helps playing those big games.
"But it will be a good game.
"They've got plenty of speed and plenty of height as well."
Murray expects conditions at Tonga Park to be heavy underfoot and the chilly conditions forecast should play into the home team's favour.
Cashmere Technical is coached by former All White Danny Halligan and John Brown, and the squad features a good smattering of Canterbury United players, such as Dan Terris, Julyan Collett, Nick Wortelboer, Tom Schwarz, Andrew Barton, Ken Yamamoto and Louis Bush.
Striker Dan Ede played for Otago United in 2009-2010.
Dunedin Technical should have an easier opponent in Western.
The Christchurch-based club has struggled in the Mainland Premier League with just three wins from 13 games.
Dunedin Technical reached the fourth round with a good 2-0 win against Coastal Spirit in Christchurch and will go into the match with confidence.
Coach Mike Fridge said the club had a proud record in the Chatham Cup and the camp was very motivated to add to that history.
Dunedin Technical upset Waitakere City 4-0 in the 1999 final to claim the greatest prize in New Zealand domestic football.
The club last reached the final in 2008 but lost to East Coast Bays 1-0.
Fridge was at the helm and said that loss still annoys him.
"I've always said I would like to get back there and put it right because I felt we could have won it that year," Fridge said.
"We lost it 1-0 with an own goal and I just didn't think we played well."
Fridge said Chatham Cup games were something special.
"Everyone likes playing Cup football; it's great.
"It is an exciting competition to be involved in and I'm hoping that is going to spur the boys on."
The 3-1 loss to Caversham last weekend was also a motivating factor.
"We certainly don't want to lose two straight.
"I'm hoping we bounce back with a good win and put that performance behind us.
"But the confidence is high and I don't see why we can't put in a good performance."
Chatham Cup
The squads
Dunedin Technical: Michael Walker, Hayden Gunn, Tristan Prattley, Matt Joy, Justin Flaws, Michael Flaws, Richard Smith, Victor Da Costa, Alistair Rickerby, Aaron Burgess, Tim Stokes, David Hayman, Tim McLennan, Brad Rodden, Tom Beauchamp, Nick Meglinski, Tim Ford.
Caversham: Callum Flaws, Liam Little, Simon Ward, Craig Ferguson, Benjudah Fitzpatrick, Andrew Ridden, Ant Hancock, Harley Rodeka (captain), Michael Smith, William Smith, Tom Jackson, Tom Merrilees, Tim Cook, Evan Jones.
