The multipurpose nature of Carisbrook has tended to produce a remote view of football matches.
Many major grounds in Britain have only a narrow running track between spectators and play, which certainly makes the crowd more involved.
Chairman Dave Lamont said Otago United had requested the playing field be marked closer to the grandstand and the Dunedin City Council, the new owner of the ground, had obliged.
"Our team thrives on spectator support, and the closer proximity of play should amplify our spectators' cheering, and justify their tag as Otago's 12th man," Lamont said.
Once again Otago starts as the underdog against a Waitakere side that has been a high-flyer in recent seasons, with successful involvement in the Oceania League as well as the NZFC.
"Anything less than 110% will be fatal for us," United coach Malcolm Fleming said.
"We squeezed Auckland for a 0-0 draw, and wrung a 2-0 win out of Wellington.
If that form is produced again, Waitakere will not find it easy at Carisbrook."
However, some of the key cogs in Otago's machine will be missing.
Tim Horner made an early commitment to the Footballsouth Under-15 tour to Singapore, and will miss the Waitakere match.
Horner's partnership with Chris Jenkinson had been a strong feature of Otago's defensive unit.
Another gap might appear in attack, since Dave Dugdale pulled up in training this week, as did young Otago defender Dave Shaw, who again broke down due to a recurring Achilles tendon problem.
James Reichwein, who performed so well in Otago's draw with Auckland, is still suspended, so Fleming may have to dig deep for his starting XI.
On a brighter note, experienced Mosgiel defender Mike Abbott approached Fleming to see if his services were required, and this week in a hard training session the Otago lumberjack showed he still has enough technique and grunt to operate at the top level.
Waitakere United player-coach Neil Emblen has troubles of his own, with Neil Sykes absent owing to a leg injury and Zane Sole overseas.
But Roy Krishna returns to bolster Waitakere's attack after serving a two-match O-League suspension.
The Fijian international will prove a handful for Otago's defence after watching last weekend's 1-1 draw with Auckland City from the sidelines.
Footballsouth plays Canterbury in a national women's league match at the Caledonian Ground at noon tomorrow.
Coach Darren Rewi's side has had three defeats and has yet to score a goal, but he and assistant Steve Brook can detect improvement in general play.
Otago United v Waitakere
Carisbrook, tomorrow, 2pm
Otago United: James Waggett, Michael Abbott, Tristan Prattley, Dave Shaw, Chris Jenkinson, Tom Sadd, Robbie Deeley, Stu Kelly, Ryan Faichnie, Dave Dugdale, Andy Coburn, Brian Brown, Dan Ede, Tom Connor, Morgan Day, Nathan Knox.
Waitakere: Danny Robinson, Jason Rowle, Aaron Scott, Tim Myers, Brent Fisher, Allan Pearce, Roy Krishna, Dimas da Silva, Jeremy Christie, Neil Emblen, Jake Butler, Dakota Lucas, Keegan Linderboom, Liam Little, Jason Hicks.
Footballsouth women's squad: Emily Stitchbury, Cherie Boucher, Caitlin Fitchett, Laura Wallis, Annie Gilchrist, Hannah Struthers, Daytona Helm, Bianca Roy, Kushla Glover, Elise Mamanu Gray, Sam Muirhead, Jordyn Walker, Yolanda Ray, Georgia Brown, Suzie Foster, Carena Oosterbaan, Amelia Currier, Kate Stafford, Una Madden, Mikaela Garland.
