Find out what’s in store in the ISPS Handa Premiership this weekend with the official preview of Round 13. Auckland City are now in pole position to claim the minor premiership but have only a one point lead over Team Wellington and Eastern Suburbs while the race for the top four is set to be a tight one with as many as eight teams still in the running.

Tasman United v Team Wellington
Saxton Field, Nelson
Saturday 27 January, 2pm
#ISPSHandaPrem #TUvTW

Referee: C Berg
Assistant Referees: I Trevis, S Reilly
Fourth Official: H McCabe

Squads

Tasman United: 1. Corey Wilson (GK), 2. Luca Perico, 3. Edward Sillars, 4. Cameron Lindsay, 6. Brian Kaltack, 8. Paul Ifill, 9. Maksym Kowal, 12. Pan La Bu, 16. Daniel Allan, 17. Callan Elliot, 18. Matt Tod-Smith, 19. Lyle Matthysen, 20. Alex Britton (GK), 21. Yousif Ali Al-Kalisy, 23. Sam Ayers
Coach: Davor Tavich

Team Wellington: 30. Marcel Kampman (GK), 2. Justin Gulley, 3. Scott Hilliar, 4. Mario Ilich, 6. Taylor Schrijvers, 7. Eric Molloy, 10. Nathanael Hailemariam, 11. Mario Barcia, 12. Andy Bevin, 13. Roy Kayara, 14. Jack-Henry Sinclair, 19. Ross Allen, 21. Daniel Mulholland
Coach: Jose Figueira

Lowdown

Tasman are the side pushing hardest to break into the play-off spots – they are just a point away in fifth – so every point will be vital in the upcoming rounds. They have bounced back well since getting a rude awakening on their return to action after the festive break – which resulted in a 6-0 humbling at the hands of Canterbury United – with a two-match unbeaten run. They are in a particularly rich vein of form in front of goal after scoring four times in consecutive weeks. But both those matches came against opposition below them on the ladder and the defending champions will offer a much tougher proposition. Wellington will not be lacking in motivation either after being knocked off top spot by Auckland City. Jose Figueira’s side got back to winning ways with a 2-1 win over Hawke’s Bay United last weekend but will certainly be viewed as beatable by Tasman after losing a quarter of their 12 matches. The capital men had the wood on Tasman in their last meeting though, triumphing 2-1 in the reverse fixture. Wellington’s new striker Ross Allen did not take long to make his mark, scoring against the Bay just minutes after coming on for his debut, and will be looking to provide enough further strikes to take his side to the title. Figueira has added Hamish Watson and Liam Wood to his ranks from the Phoenix while Tasman have also been busy in the transfer window, welcoming three players and ushering five to the exit door, including Kieran Smith and Tinashe Marowa.

Quotes

Jose Figueira (Team Wellington coach): “We’re delighted to bring in two quality players and Tasman have had a few movements in and out in the window so, in a sense, it will be a little bit of the unknown. We’re expecting an intense game, high tempo, but the boys have trained really well this week and obviously we’ll be going out for the win so we’ve got to be right at the top of our game.”

Hawke’s Bay United vs Eastern Suburbs
Memorial Park, Palmerston North
Sunday 28 January, 1pm
#ISPSHandaPrem #HBvES

Referee: M Conger
Assistant Referees: M Rule, T Pedley
Fourth Official: A Riley

Squads

Hawke’s Bay United: 26. Mackenzie Waite (GK), 4. Graham Craven, 5. Bill Robertson, 6. Alex Palezevic, 7. Wesley Cain, 8. Sam St De Croix, 10. Adam Thurston, 11. Hayato Wakino, 14. Gavin Hoy, 15. Jim Hoyle, 16. Tinashe Marowa, 19. Birhanu Taye, 21. Bjorn Christensen, 22. Jorge Akers, 24. Karanjit Mandair, 33. McCullough Wilson (GK)
Coach: Brett Angell

Eastern Suburbs: 1. Lewis Caunter (GK), 3. Ryan Elder, 4. Brock Messenger, 6. Jordan Vale, 7. Tim Payne, 8. Moses Dyer, 10. Andre de Jong, 11. Ben Thomas, 12. Hayden Johns, 14. Leon van den Hoven, 15. Harry Redwood, 16. Regont Murati, 17. Michael Built, 18. Tristan Prattley, 20. Derek Tieku, 21. James Dunn (GK)
Coach: Danny Hay

Lowdown

Hawke’s Bay’s play-off chances suffered a real blow in the previous round with a 2-1 loss to Team Wellington and they now find themselves four points off the pace. That means a proud record of making the playoffs in each of the past five seasons is in serious danger of coming to an end and three points here are therefore a must. Their record so far this season suggests they may not be capable of sneaking into the top four though as they have won only three matches and lost nearly half of their 12 games. It would take quite a dramatic turnaround in form to accumulate the necessary points and there would need to be more than one substantial upset, starting with the visit of Eastern Suburbs on Sunday. The Lilywhites’ hopes of securing the minor premiership took a blow mid-week with a 2-0 loss to Auckland City but they are still just a point off the top and could return to the summit if they pick up a win and other results go their way. Posing a threat to their chances is Tinashe Marowa, who has just joined the Bay from Tasman United and, if he can rediscover his early season form, could be a real asset to Brett Angell.

Quotes

Brett Angell (Hawke’s Bay United coach): “We were very disappointed not to have got at least something from the game against Wellington, in fact we’re probably disappointed we didn’t take all three points. We have to carry on from our first-half performance and see whether Eastern Suburbs can post a threat. They’re going to have to deal with playing their third game in a week, it will be interesting to see if they can back up physically as a group.”

Southern United v Waitakere United
Sunnyvale Park, Dunedin
Sunday 28 January, 2pm
#ISPSHandaPrem #SUvWU

Referee: H McCabe
Assistant Referees: A Verolino, J Cowie
Fourth Official: D Woulahan

Squads

Southern United: 1. Tom Stevens (GK), 2. Conor O’Keeffe, 3. Tom Connor, 4. Kristian Gibson, 5. Stephen Last, 6. Danny Ledwith, 7. Omar Guardiola, 8. Jared Grove, 10. Danny Furlong, 13. Tim McLennan, 14. Andrew Ridden, 15. Hamish Cotter, 16. Liam Little (GK), 19. Sam Carmichael, 20. Alex Ridsdale, 22. Andrew Cromb
Coach: Paul O’Reilly

Waitakere United: 22. Josh Dijkstra (GK), 5. Julyan Collett, 6. Jordan Hearn, 7. Yuki Ohtsuka, 8. Andre Estay, 10. Eder Franchini Pasten, 11. Keegan Linderboom, 17. Jake Butler, 18. Kris Carpenter, 19. Tom Shaw, 20. Rossi Nkoy, 21. Dylan Windust, 23. Dylan Manickum, 28. Liam Anderson (GK)
Coach: Chris Milicich

Lowdown

After giving up an early lead to lose 4-2 at home to Tasman United last weekend, Southern now have only an outside chance of making the play-offs and must embark on a hugely impressive run in the coming weeks to get there. Anything less than three points against Waitakere would all but put an end to their faint hopes so they have no choice but to approach this match on the front foot. Southern have been one of the more active sides in the transfer window, bringing in six players. One of these, Alex Ridsdale, scored on his debut against former side Tasman and will look to continue his bright start in a Southern shirt. Waitakere have welcomed seven players into the fold – including the Eastern Suburbs pair of Nicolas Zambrano and Rossi Nkoy – and will be just as desperate for the points to keep their play-off hopes alive. The west Aucklanders have not had a great start to the year and you have to go back to December 10 for their most recent win.

Canterbury United Dragons v Wellington Phoenix Reserves
English Park, Christchurch
Sunday 28 January, 2pm
#ISPSHandaPrem #CUvWP

Referee: R Fleetham
Assistant Referees: I Trevis, B O’Connell
Fourth Official: C Mills

Squads

Canterbury United Dragons: 1. Coey Turipa (GK), 2. Dan Terris, 3. Aaron Spain, 5. Tom Schwarz, 6. Gary Ogilvie, 7. Travis Nicklaw, 8. Luke Tongue, 10. Futa Nakamura, 12. George King, 13. Lewis Gordon (GK), 15. Andreas Wilson, 16. Cory Mitchell, 17. Stephen Hoyle, 19. Francis de Vries, 23. Sebastian Schacht, 30. Seth Clark
Coach: Willy Gerdsen

Wellington Phoenix Reserves: 1. Keegan Smith (GK), 2. Pranay Singh, 3. Jacob Williams, 4. Liam Moore, 6. Liberto Cacace, 8. Ollie Whyte, 10. Willem Ebbinge, 11. Sam Sutton, 12. Ollie Valentine, 14. Alex Rufer, 18. Sarpreet Singh, 19. Sam Philip, 23. Benjamin Waine, 46. Logan Rogerson, 51. Noah Tipene-Clegg
Coach: Chris Greenacre

Lowdown

Canterbury began the season slowly but have found form at the right time and – with Auckland City, Team Wellington and Eastern Suburbs all looking likely to occupy the top three – have put themselves in prime position to claim the fourth and final play-off spot. Four other sides are all still in with a chance though so the job is far from done and they will need to bounce back to winning ways after being outclassed 2-0 by Auckland City last time out – their first loss in five rounds. It could be a good time to face the Phoenix with the ‘Wee Nix’ having lost both fire power and defensive solidity after the departures of Hamish Watson and Liam Wood to Team Wellington. The Phoenix showed just how big a say they could have in the play-off picture last weekend though with a 3-2 win over Waitakere United and Canterbury will be desperate to avoid a similar fate. The Dragons have also taken advantage of the Phoenix production line of talent, snapping up Luke Tongue in the transfer window.

Quotes

Gary Ogilvie (Canterbury United captain): “The boys were disappointed with the result and the performance on Sunday. But we know it’s only one game, it’s a long season and we’ve come in this week and tried to learn from it but also put it behind us. It’s always a tough one against the Phoenix because you never know what you’re going to get, you’re not sure what pros are going to come down or what sort of side they will put out. But they’re always going to come out and give you a good game so we’re expecting that.”

Hamilton Wanderers v Auckland City
Links Avenue, Tauranga
Sunday 28 January, 4.35pm
#ISPSHandaPrem #HWvAC
Live on SKY Sport

Referee: A Wilson
Assistant Referees: B Norman, A Lamberth
Fourth Official: AM Keighley

Squads

Hamilton Wanderers: 1. Matt Oliver (GK), 3. Joseph Nottage, 5. Sam O’Regan, 7. Patrick Aisa, 8. Steffano Riley, 10. Armin Pasagic, 11. Jordan Shaw, 12. Raheem Hunter, 13. Tommy Semmy, 14. Liam Fellowes, 17. Xavier Pratt, 18. Alexis Varela, 20. Jerahl Hughes, 21. Liam Hayes, 23. David Masters (GK)
Coach: Ricki Herbert

Auckland City: 1. Enaut Zubikarai (GK), 4. Mario Bilen, 5. Angel Berlanga, 6. Te Atawhai Hudson-Wihongi, 7. Cameron Howieson, 8. Albert Riera, 9. Darren White, 11. Fabrizio Tavano, 13. Alfie Rogers, 17. Reid Drake, 19. Micah Lea’alafa, 20. Emiliano Tade, 21. Harrison Moss-Edge, 24. Conor Tracey (GK), 26. Callum McCowatt, 27. Dalton Wilkins
Coach: Ramon Tribulietx

Lowdown

Success over fellow title chasers Eastern Suburbs in mid-week put Auckland City back on top of the tree and they now have a golden opportunity to solidify that status in facing the bottom-placed side. Remarkably, Hamilton Wanderers are still to win a match but have proved a tougher nut to crack since the turn of the year, picking up two draws from their three matches since the break and pushing in-form Eastern Suburbs all the way in a 5-3 loss last week. Their form in front of goal has been excellent in recent times with nine goals being scored across those three matches. But the problem has been at the other end, where they are leaking an average of over three goals per game. That does not bode well for this weekend as Auckland City have the best attacking record in the league, scoring eight more goals than any other side. Golden boot leader Emiliano Tade has found the net three times in his last two matches and will again be the danger man.

Quotes

Ramon Tribulietx (Auckland City coach): “This game is a difficult one for a lot of reasons, particularly after two very tough games at Canterbury and Eastern Suburbs. This is tough for players mentally and physically and you have a long bus trip to face to get to Links Avenue. Hamilton Wanderers have made some big improvements to how they play and they've made some good signings in Tommy Semmy and Jerahl Hughes. Tommy and Jerahl are two very quick and explosive players who can make an impact on a match.”