Typically, it is the slick-passing, push-and-run teams that get bogged down, but while some tactics become "route one", another element is the sheer character of individuals.
Grit and toughness become essential elements, along with stamina and spirit, and those qualities come to the fore when Otago southerlies blow and sheets of hail lash along the pitch.
With or without the winter factor, today's Footballsouth Premier League match at Ellis Park between Roslyn-Wakari and University should be a tussle.
Only one competition point separates the teams. Roslyn has eight, Varsity has seven, with five games played, and coach Colin Thom's Roslyn side has only a marginally better goal difference.
Both sides have accelerated in recent weeks, and Varsity's morale must be high after trouncing Mosgiel 4-0, and that score might have flattered the Plainsmen.
Roslyn also won last week in a tough match against the rapidly improving Queenstown side, and the extra-time winner scored by James Govan could be an indication of his side's resilient spirit.
Govan's recent form has produced goals, and also switched team-mates Sam Mepham and Damian Foster into attacking form, while Aajay Cunningham's return from injury is keenly awaited.
Neither side has a waterproof defence, but Roslyn is well led by James Watson and Chris Fernando, while Varsity has a tough trio in Peter Overmire, Zac Rathbone and Todd Marwick.
The students may have an edge if Brazillian Guilherme Melo, the ball-juggling midfielder, is allowed space. He can add grace notes to any game.
At the Gardens ground, Northern hosts Caversham, and coach Steve Brook is still savouring his side's only win of the season, a 3-2 defeat of Mosgiel earlier this month.
The Gardens ground can produce an occasional random bounce, and never more so than when Northern drew 1-1 with Dunedin Technical to become the only side to take a point from Mike Fridge's team.
So Caversham will be wary, but it is likely to crank up too much pace and energy for the Magpies, as coach Richard Murray aims to stretch his side's run without loss to six games. At Sunnyvale, Green Island has had just one win this season, and faces a Queenstown side led by factotum coach, manager and goalkeeper Steve Henderson, who almost single-handedly denied Roslyn last week.
Queenstown is clearly improving each week, despite more indiscipline, which limits Henderson's player choice, as does the fact that the Rovers "away" side can be less than full strength.
FPL leader Technical starts as overwhelming favourite against Grants Braes at the Caledonian, its only flaws being two drawn matches.
Still, Braes was able to hold Caversham to a surprise draw, and if big Njoh Mpondo and keeper Anthony Mallen hit obdurate form, there will be hope of an upset.
For Fridge and Technical, it is all about staying cool and minimising errors on the way to what could be a second FPL championship.
