Find out what is in store in the ISPS Handa Premiership this weekend with the official preview of Round 11. All 10 teams are in action with three games on Saturday and two on Sunday. The Wellington Phoenix Reserves are the game which features live on SKY Sport tomorrow at 4:45pm as the curtain raiser to the A League game between the Phoenix and the Central Coast Mariners. Defending champions Team Wellington are away in Auckland against third placed Eastern Suburbs in what shapes as the game of the round. Auckland City will look to get back to winning ways and promote their chances of hosting a home semi-final when they welcome Southern United to Kiwitea St, while fifth-placed Waitakere United know they will have a challenge on their hands against a resurgent Canterbury United in West Auckland.

Auckland City v Southern United
Kiwitea Street, Auckland
Saturday 13 January, 2:00pm
#ISPSHandaPrem #ACvSU

Auckland City: 1. Enaut ZUBIKARAI (GK), 2. Liam GRAHAM, 3. Takuya IWATA, 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, 21. Harry MOSS-EDGE, 24. Conor TRACEY, 26. Callum MCCOWATT
Coach: Ramon TRIBULIETX

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, 10. Danny FURLONG, 11. Michael HOGAN 13. Tim McLENNAN, 14. Andrew RIDDEN, 15. Hamish COTTER, 19. Sam CARMICHAEL, 23. Benjamin WADE
Coach: Paul O’REILLY

Referee AM Keighley
Assistant Referee 1 S Merriman
Assistant Referee 2 T Chang
Fourth Official CK Waugh

Lowdown:
Auckland City face a stern test at Kiwitea Street as they adjust to life without defender Daewook Kim and prepare for the imminent departure of star striker Ryan De Vries. The Navy Blues were held to a 2-2 draw last weekend in the Super City Derby with Waitakere United and currently sit three points back from league leaders Team Wellington, with a game in hand. The six-time champions will want to make the most of home advantage and put Southern away like they have in the history of the ISPS Handa Premiership. Southern haven’t beaten Auckland City in last 24 attempts, however they pulled off a credible 2-2 draw in Round 1 at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin in October. Southern’s away form has been impressive this season, with last week’s loss to Eastern Suburbs the team’s first loss on the road, previously picking up a win and four draws. Attacker Garbhan Coughlan has been unlucky with injury again, picking up an arm injury in last week’s loss to Eastern Suburbs that could keep him out for a few weeks. Captain Conor O’Keeffe returns to the side after missing last week's match due to suspension and midfielder Sam Carmichael also returns from suspension.

Quotes:
Auckland City FC Coach Ramon Tribulietx:
"Paul O'Reilly has made Southern United a very competitive opponent over these last one-and-a-half seasons and I expect nothing less than a tough match. Southern have good organisation defensively and are very strong on the counter-attack and at set-pieces which on our ground makes them very dangerous. The second round of matches is always much tougher because teams are chasing playoff positions so we need to be mentally tough and show the level of performance we did in the first four months of this season.”

Southern United captain Conor O’Keefe:
“We have to go into this match with that sort of mentality that we can win otherwise there is no point showing up. We have to believe that we can get something from the game. There is no pressure on us. Everyone is expecting Auckland to come away with the result at home. For me personally, I love the games against the big clubs because it’s a great challenge testing yourself against the best players in the country. Obviously for Southern, coming up against the likes of Auckland City, Team Wellington, and Eastern Suburbs, naturally enough we're going to be the underdogs so it’s up to us to put in a good performance, working hard to get the results.”

Eastern Suburbs v Team Wellington
Bill McKinlay Park, Auckland
Saturday 13 January, 2pm
#ISPSHandaPrem #ESvTW

Eastern Suburbs: 1. Lewis CAUNTER, 2 Ryan ELDER, 4 Dane SCHNELL, 6. Jordan VALE, 7. Tim PAYNE, 8. Moses Dyer, 9. Max MATA, 10. Andre DE JONG, 13. Kingsley SINCLAIR, 14 Leon VAN DEN HOVEN, 17. Michael BUILT, 18, Tristan PRATTLEY, 20. Derek TIEKU, 22. Hayden JOHNS, 33. James DUNN, 36. Kelvin KALUA, Coach: Danny HAY

Team Wellington: 1.Scott BASALAJ (GK), 2. Justin GULLEY, 3. Scott HILLIAR, 4. Mario ILLICH, 5. Erik PANZER, 6. Taylor SCHRIJVERS, 7. Eric MOLLOY, 10. Nati HAILEMARIAM, 11. Mario BARCIA, 12. Andy BEVIN, 13. Roy KAYARA, 15. Joel STEVENS, 16. ANGUS KILLKOLLY, 17. Louis FENTON, 18 Sekou DIANE, 30. Marcel KAMPMAN (GK)
Coach: Jose FIGUEIRA

Referee M Conger
Assistant Referee 1 S Lount
Assistant Referee 2 M Batoor
Fourth Official A Wilson

Lowdown:
Saturday’s fixture at Bill McKinlay Park shapes as the game of the round. Team Wellington make the trip from the capital north to Auckland, for a much-anticipated Round 11 ISPS Handa Premiership clash against Eastern Suburbs. Both teams are riding high in the table, sitting 2^nd and 3^rd respectively, and are both coming off wins last weekend to start the second half of the 2017/18 season. Team Wellington were particularly impressive in their 4-1 victory over Wellington Phoenix Reserves in the previous round, and will also be out for revenge after Suburbs beat them at home in the first game of the season 3-1, thanks to a maiden national league hat-trick to Andre de Jong. Last week, the Lily Whites were clinical as they overcame a determined Southern United and controlled possession and territory for the majority of the match. Danny Hay’s side has shown they are potential semi-final contenders and they will get a stern test from the defending champions.

Team Wellington coach Jose Figuiera:

"We were delighted with the start to the New Year. The first game back is a potential banana skin game, but we looked good with the ball and dangerous going forward. We want to build on last week, but we know it is going to be a whole new challenge for us. We know exactly what we will come up against and we have to be right on top of our game."

Wellington Phoenix Reserves v Hawke’s Bay United
Westpac Stadium, Wellington
Saturday 13 January 4:45pm (Live on SKY Sport)
#ISPSHandaPrem #WPvHU

Wellington Phoenix Reserves: 1. Keegan SMITH (GK), 3. Jacob WILLIAMS, 5. Liam WOOD, 6. Liberato CACACE, 8. Oliver WHYTE, 10. William EBBINGE, 11 Sam SUTTON, 14. Alex RUFER, 15. James MCGARRY, 17. Luke TONGUE, 18. Sarpreet SINGH, 19. Sam PHILIP, 23. Ben WAINE, 77. Oscar SPRAGG, 78, Oscar BROWNE Coach: Chris GREENACRE

Hawke’s Bay United: 1. Ruben PARKER (GK), 2. Hayden MCHENERY, 4. Graham CRAVEN, 5. Bill ROBERTSON, 6. Alex PALEZEVIC, 7. Wesley CAIN, 8. Samuel ADJEI, 10. Adam THURSTON, 13. Benjamin Lack, 14. Gavin HOY, 15. James HOYLE, 16. Liam HAYES, 19. Birhanu TAYE, 21. Bjorn CHRISTENSEN, 24. Karanjit MANDAIR, 26. Mackenzie WAITE
Coach: Brett ANGELL

Referee C Berg
Assistant Referee 1 M Whitehead
Assistant Referee 2 A Clarke
Fourth Official R Fleetham

Lowdown: The Wellington Phoenix Reserves will be looking to make the most of their time in the spotlight as they host Hawke’s Bay United at the Cake Tin in the SKY Sport game of the round. The Wee Nix were blown away by Team Wellington in the first half last weekend where the defending champions turned it on to lead 4-1 at half-time. But Chris Greenacre’s side have shown they are more than capable of beating some of the better teams in the competition. Hawke’s Bay United will look to turn around their frustrating season to date. They come into the game after drawing 2-2 with 10^th placed Hamilton Wanderers last weekend at Bluewater Stadium in Napier. If they are going to make the semi-finals then their run has to start now. The Phoenix of course cannot make the playoffs but will want to win in front of their home fans as the senior team looks to back up their impressive win over the Melbourne Victory.

Quotes:
Hawke’s Bay United coach Brett Angell
“It is a great opportunity for our players to show their wares with the TV cameras on [for the SKY Sport match] We hope that they can show what they are capable of doing. We are pretty frustrated and disappointed that we don’t have more points than what we currently have. So now winning is the paramount outcome of the game, more so than the performance.”

Tasman United v Hamilton Wanderers
Saxton Fields, Nelson
Sunday 14 January, 2:00pm
#ISPSHandaPrem #TUvHW

Tasman United: 1. Corey WILSON (GK), 2. Luca PERICO, 4. Cameron LINDSAY, 5. Mark JOHNSTON, 6. Brian KALTAK, 7. Ryan Stewart, 8. Paul IFILL, 9. Maksym KOWAL, 12. Cory CHETTLEBURGH, 14. Robbie PEARSON, 15. Tinashe MAROWA, 16. Daniel ALLAN, 17. Callan ELLIOT, 19. Lyle MATTHYSEN 21. Yousif AL-KALISY, 23. Sam AYERS, Coach: Davor TAVICH

Hamilton Wanderers: (four more to be added): 1. Matt OLIVER (GK), 3. Joseph NOTTAGE, 4. David SAMSON, 7. Patrick AISA, 10. Armin PASAGIC, 11. Jordan SHAW, 13. Tommy SEMMY, 17. Xavier PRATT, 18. Alexis CARCAMO VARELA, 20. Jerahl HUGHES, 23. David MASTERS (GK), 59. Steffano RILEY
Coach: Ricki HERBERT

Referee A Riley
Assistant Referee 1 B O’Connell
Assistant Referee 2 S Reilly
Fourth Official H McCabe

Lowdown: Tasman United will look to dust themselves off and go again after they were comprehensively beaten 6-0 by local rivals in the South Island Derby last weekend. The Davor Tavich coached side are still to win at home this year and will hope that a change of setting – from Trafalgar Park to Saxton Fields – could make the difference. The Wanderers head to Nelson knowing that if they get it right they will be able to cause Tasman United some problems. The Ricki Herbert coached team, who secured their second point of the season last weekend when they drew with Hawke’s Bay United, are still searching for their first win of the ISPS Handa Premiership.

Waitakere United v Canterbury United Dragons
The Trusts Arena, Auckland
Sunday 14 January 2:00pm
#ISPSHandaPrem #WUvCU

Waitakere United: 28. Liam ANDERSON (GK), 1. Jack MCQUOID, 3. Stewart MACKAY, 5. Julyan COLLETT 7. Yuki OHTSUKA, 8. Andre ESTAY, 9. Ryan CAIN 10. Eder FRANCHINI PASTEN, 11. Keegan LINDERBOOM, 14. David PARKINSON, 15. Horace JAMES, 17. Jake BUTLER, 18. Kris CARPENTER, 19. Thomas SHAW, 23. Dylan MANICKUM 24. Godwin DARKWA
Coach: Chris MILICICH

Canterbury United Dragons: 1. Corey 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, 13. Lewis GORDON, 14. Sean LIDDICOAT, 15. Andreas WILSON, 16. Cory MITCHELL, 17. Stephen HOYLE, 22. Danny KNIGHT (GK), 24. Francis DE VRIES,
Coach: Willy GERDSEN

Referee P Linney
Assistant Referee 1 H Tutbury
Assistant Referee 2 B Norman
Fourth Official CK Waugh

Lowdown: The other game of the round has to be Waitakere United hosting Canterbury United. The five time champions showed plenty of character to come from a goal down at Kiwitea St to draw 2-2 with the Navy Blues.  Chris Mlicich’s side has been one of the form teams in the competition. They have beaten Team Wellington (2-1), Hawke’s Bay United (3-1) and came from behind to beat Hamilton Wanderers (4-2), before taking one point away from the Super City Derby.  Meanwhile Canterbury United will travel north full of confidence. The Willy Gerdsen coached team were at their dominant best when they cleaned up Tasman United 6-0 with Futa Nakamura netting a hat-trick. It was a continuation of their form from the end of 2017 where they won four of their final five matches. This could be a huge game in deciding the semi-final places in March.

Quotes;
Willy Gerdsen, Canterbury United Dragons coach:
“We were really pleased with the performance last week and the dominance we showed, but this week we are focusing only on this game. Waitakere were also good last week against Auckland City. We know that this will be a completely different game. Chris [Milicich] always has his teams well prepared and it is always a tough place to go and get a result. It is always a close game with Waitakere.”