Find out what is in store in the ISPS Handa Premiership this weekend with the official preview of Round Eight. There is one match on Saturday with Eastern Suburbs hosting the Wellington Phoenix Reserves and three games on Sunday – Southern United v Canterbury United Dragons, Hawke’s Bay United v Tasman United and Hamilton Wanderers v Waitakere United. Auckland City, who have spent this week at the FIFA Club World Cup in the UAE, and Team Wellington are not in action. The Charity Cup fixture at the start of the season doubled as their Round Eight match.

Eastern Suburbs v Wellington Phoenix ReservesBill McKinlay ParkSaturday 9 December, 2pm#ISPSHandaPrem #TUvES

Referee H McCabeAssistant Referee 1 H TutburyAssistant Referee 2 A LamberthFourth Official A Wilson

Eastern Suburbs: 1. Lewis CAUNTER, 5. Reese COX, 6. Jordan VALE, 7. Tim PAYNE, 8. Moses Dyer, 9. Max MATA, 10. Andre DE JONG, 11. Ben THOMAS, 13. Roussin NKOY, 17. Harrison NASH, 18. Tristan PRATTLEY, 19. Nicolas ZAMBRANO, 20. Derek TIEKU, 25. Zac SPEEDY (GK), 26. Chris JAMES, 36. K. KaluaCoach: Danny HAY

Wellington Phoenix Reserves: 20 Z. DEAN (GK), 1. Oliver SAIL (GK), 2. Ryan LOWRY, 5. Liam WOOD, 6. Liberato CACACE, 7. Gianni BOUZOUKIS 8. Oliver WHYTE, 11 Sam SUTTON, 13 Noah TIPENE-CLEGG, 15. James MCGARRY, 16. Ryan LOWRY, 17. Luke TONGUE, 10. Willem EBBINGE, 19. Sam PHILIP, 23. Ben WAINE, 26 Kurtis MOGGCoach: Chris GREENACRE

Lowdown:Eastern Suburbs are back in action this weekend after their Round Seven local derby with Auckland City was rescheduled due to the Navy Blues FIFA Club World Cup commitments. Danny Hay’s side are in a great position to make a play for the playoffs. The Lily Whites are in fourth place on 10 points; after six games, they have two games in hand over second-placed Team Wellington. This week shapes as a game they must win to keep their semi-final chances on track. Meanwhile, the Wellington Phoenix Reserves will travel north with plenty of confidence after securing their first win of the season away at Tasman United. Chris Greenacre’s side sit ninth on the ladder but they are not to be underestimated as the likes of Sapreet Singh and Logan Rogerson showed last week in Nelson.

Southern United v Canterbury United DragonsSunnyvale ParkSunday 10 December, 2pm#ISPSHandaPrem #SUvCU

Referee N WaldronAssistant Referee 1 A VeroliinoAssistant Referee 2 J CowieFourth Official C Berg

Southern United: 16. Liam LITTLE (GK), 1. Tom STEVENS (GK), 2. Conor O’KEEFFE, 4. Kristian GIBSON, 5. Stephen LAST, 6. Daniel LEDWITH, 7. Omar GUARDIOLA, 8. Jared GROVE, 9. Garbhan COUGHLAN, 10. Danny FURLONG, 13. Tim McLENNAN, 14. Andrew RIDDEN, 15. Hamish COTTER, 17. Morgan DAY, 19. Sam CARMICHAEL, 21. Cody BROOK, 23. Benjamin WADECoach: Paul O’REILLY

Canterbury United Dragons: 1. Coey TURIPA (GK), 2. Dan TERRIS, 3. Aaron SPAIN, 5. Tom SCHWARZ, 6. Garry OGILIVIE, 7. Travis NICKLAW, 9. James PENDRIGH, 10. Futa NAKAMURA, 12. George KING, 14. Sean LIDDICOAT, 15. Andreas WILSON, 16. Cory MITCHELL, 17. Stephen HOYLE, 22. Danny KNIGHT (GK), 23. Sebastian SCHACHT 24. Francis DE VRIES,Coach: Willy GERDSEN

Lowdown:This southern derby always has plenty of feeling and in 2017 that will be even more so with Southern United looking to continue their promising start to the ISPS Handa Premiership 2017/ 18. The Paul O’Reilly coached side, who led 2-0 early at Porritt Stadium only to finish with a 2-2 draw with Wanderers, will look to bounce back and claim their third win of the season. Of particular note is a return to the national league stage for Dunedin Technical forward Tim McLennan. McLennan was awarded the Football South Male Sportsperson of the Year during the 2017 winter season for his superb form for Technical, and he was also crowned the Premier League Golden Boot with 18 goals. Striker Danny Furlong is still recovering from his injury however may play a part pending a fitness test closer to the match. Canterbury United Dragons have historically been the stronger of the two teams so they will not enjoy the fact that they sit eighth on the table on seven points. Willy Gerdsen’s side know there is a long way to go and a win down south would see them level on points with Southern United. The Red and Blacks competed well last weekend at David Farrington Park but were beaten 2-0 by the defending champions Team Wellington. If the Dragons want to make the semi-finals in March, their resurgence must start now in the southern derby.

Quotes:Willy Gerdsen, Canterbury United Dragons coach: “It is obvious that Southern have improved a lot this year with their Irish influence. We are prepared for a challenge. We know that it will not be easy but we know that we are playing good football at the moment, last week’s result didn’t go our way, but we are looking forward to this one.”Francis De Vries Canterbury United Dragons: “I am finding the level of the ISPS Handa Premiership to be really good. I have been away for a few years and since I have been back, the level is much better. With this competition there is great potential for the young players to be developed here in New Zealand.”

Hawke’s Bay United v Tasman UnitedBluewater Stadium, NapierSunday 10 December, 2pm#ISPSHandaPrem #HBvTU

Referee C MillsAssistant Referee 1 M RuleAssistant Referee 2 T PedleyFourth Official M Roil

Hawke’s Bay United: 1. Ruben PARKER (GK), 2. Daniel MCHENERY, 3. Kohei MATSUMOTO, 4. Graham CRAVEN, 5. Bill ROBERTSON, 7. Wesley CAIN, 8. Alex PALEZEVIC, 9. Samuel ADJEI, 10. Adam THURSTON, 14. Gavin HOY, 15. James HOYLE, 16. Liam HAYES, 19. Birhanu TAYE, 21. Bjorn CHRISTENSEN, 24. Karanjit MANDAIR, 26. Mackenzie WAITECoach: Brett ANGELL

Tasman United: 1. Corey WILSON (GK), 2. Luca PERICO, 4. Cameron LINDSAY, 5. Mark JOHNSTON, 6. Brian KALTAK, 9. Maksym KOWAL, 10. Kieran SMITH, 11. Alex RIDSDALE, 12. Cory CHETTLEBURGH, 14. Robbie PEARSON, 15. Tinashe MAROWA, 16. Daniel ALLAN, 17. Callan ELLIOT, 21. Abdulla AL-KALISY, 23. Sam AYERS, Ryan STEWARTCoach: Davor TAVICH

Lowdown:This shapes as the game of the round. After seven rounds, both teams will fancy their chances of making the playoffs and both teams are looking to bounce back from losses at home. Hawke’s Bay United, who are regular semi-finalists in the ISPS Handa Premiership, went down 3-1 to Waitakere United as the five-time champions turned on a special performance away in Napier. Brett Angell is a cunning coach and he knows this week against a Tasman United side who has impressed in 2017 is important. Meanwhile Tasman, who were upset 2-0 at Trafalgar Park by the Phoenix Reserves, will look to snap a five game stretch without a win. The Davor Tavich coached team, who went down to 10 men in the home loss, were also without injured star Paul Ifill and he remains on the sidelines. Both sides know this is a game will have a big impact on their chances at the business end of the season.

Quotes:Hawke’s Bay United coach Brett Angell: “We have got to cut out the moments where we have a loss of concentration which is affecting us from set plays. We need to start to switch on when the ball is out of play and recognise that if we aren’t then teams have the ability to make us pay. Tasman are a threat and I am sure that they will be looking to get back to winning ways, but so do we.”

Hamilton Wanderers v Waitakere UnitedPorritt StadiumSunday 10 December, 4:35pm (Live on SKY Sport)#ISPSHandaPrem #HWvWU

Referee AM KeighleyAssistant Referee 1 T ChangAssistant Referee 2 L AgnewFourth Official A Maharaj

Hamilton Wanderers: 1. Matt OLIVER (GK), 3. Joseph NOTTAGE, 5. Samuel O’REGAN, 6. Flynn O’BRIEN, 8. Sam DE ST CROIX, 10. Armin PASAGIC, 11. Jordan SHAW, 12. Raheem HUNTER-ALI, 13. Tommy SEMMY, 14. Patrick ASIA, 16. Hamish SMYLIE, 17. Xavier PRATT, 18. Alexis CARCAMO VARELA, 20. Jerahl HUGHES, 21. Paul CLOUT, 23. David MASTERS (GK)Coach: Ricki HERBERT

Waitakere United: 28. Liam ANDERSON (GK), 2 Serafino LACAGNINA 3. Stewart MACKAY, 5. Julyan COLLETT 7. Yuki OHTSUKA, 9. Ryan CAIN 10. Eder FRANCHINI PASTEN, 11. Keegan LINDERBOOM, 12 Fabian ISTEFO 14. David PARKINSON, 15. Horace JAMES, 17. Jake BUTLER, 19. Thomas SHAW, 22. Josh DIJKSTRA (GK), 22 Joshua DIJKSTRA, 23. Dylan MANICKUM 24. Godwin DARKWACoach: Chris MILICICH

LowdownFor the second time in as many weeks Hamilton Wanderers are in the spotlight as the host of the live game on SKY Sport. They will be feeling better about life after securing their first point of the season when they showed great character to come from two goals down and draw 2-2 with Southern United. They will want to go one better this week and cause an upset by claiming all three points. Ricki Herbert will know he has a bigger challenge on his hands when five-time champions Waitakere United travel down State Highway 1. The Chris Milicich side were at their sparkling best in their 3-1 win over Hawke’s Bay United in Napier and it proved a decisive result. They jumped to third on the table and within striking distance of frontrunners Auckland City and Team Wellington. With both teams out of action this weekend, Waitakere United know they have a great opportunity to further their playoff chances with an important away win.