Find out what’s in store in the ISPS Handa Premiership this weekend with the official preview of Round 14.

Wellington Phoenix Reserves vs Eastern Suburbs
David Farrington Park, Wellington
Sunday 4 February, 2pm
#ISPSHandaPrem #WPvES

Referee: B O’Connell
Assistant Referees: A Davenport, E Cook
Fourth Official: P Linney

Squads

Wellington Phoenix Reserves: 1. Keegan Smith (GK), 3. Jacob Williams, 4. Liam Moore, 8. Ollie Whyte, 10. Willem Ebbinge, 11. Sam Sutton, 13. Noah Tipene-Clegg, 19. Sam Philip, 20. Oliver Sail (GK), 21. Owen Smith, 23. Benjamin Waine, 26. Kurtis Mogg
Coach: Chris Greenacre

Eastern Suburbs: 1. Lewis Caunter (GK), 6. Jordan Vale, 7. Tim Payne, 8. Moses Dyer, 10. Andre de Jong, 11. Ben Thomas, 13. Kingsley Sinclair, 14. Leon van den Hoven, 17. Michael Built, 18. Tristan Prattley, 20. Derek Tieku, 22. Hayden Johns, 24. Charles Spragg, 29. Matt Palmer, 33. James Dunn (GK), 36. Kelvin Kalua
Coach: Danny Hay

Lowdown

There is likely to be plenty of goals in this one as Eastern Suburbs are among the highest scorers in the league while the ‘Wee Nix’ have been the great entertainers in recent weeks, involved in 3-2 thrillers in each of the previous three rounds. They have finished up on the wrong end of two of those results though and have won just once since the turn of the year, only being kept off the bottom of the table by the poor form of Hamilton Wanderers. Coach Chris Greenacre will therefore be keen to make the most of the remaining fixtures and celebrate his appointment as New Zealand U-20 assistant coach with three points. That will be easier said than done though against a Suburbs side desperate to get back on track after consecutive 2-0 defeats. The minor premiership may well now prove to be beyond them with top spot four points away but a victory here would all but confirm their place in the play-offs.

Quotes

Chris Greenacre (Wellington Phoenix coach): “We had arguably our best performance of the season against Canterbury but we just let ourselves down on a couple of issues and conceded a couple of sloppy goals. But we really could have been 5-1 ahead, that’s how well we played. This week gives us a great chance to go and play one of the top teams and, the more difficult the task for us, the better it is for the long-term development of our younger players.”

Danny Hay (Eastern Suburbs coach): “It was difficult to take two losses in a short space of time. We had a couple of injuries and suspensions which didn’t help last weekend but we’ve got a couple of key players back now in Tim Payne and Tristan Prattley. So defensively I think we’re going to be a lot more solid this week and we just need to actually get back to doing the things we were doing well when we had four wins on the bounce. But we know it’s going to be difficult because the Phoenix have been playing extremely well of late.”

Tasman United vs Hawke’s Bay United
Saxton Field, Nelson
Sunday 4 February, 2pm
#ISPSHandaPrem #TUvHB

Referee: AM Keighley
Assistant Referees: C Gruschow, S Reilly
Fourth Official: R Mahalm

Squads

Tasman United: 1. Corey Wilson (GK), 2. Luca Perico, 3. Edward Sillars, 4. Cameron Lindsay, 5. Mark Johnston, 8. Paul Ifill, 9. Maksym Kowal, 16. Daniel Allan, 17. Callan Elliot, 18. Matt Tod-Smith, 19. Lyle Matthysen, 20. Alex Britton (GK), 23. Sam Ayers, 25. Pan La Bu
Coach: Davor Tavich

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, 11. Hayato Wakino, 12. Ben Lack, 13. Jordan Lamb, 15. Jim Hoyle, 18. Josh Murphy, 19. Birhanu Taye, 21. Bjorn Christensen, 22. Jorge Akers, 24. Karanjit Mandair, 33. McCullough Wilson (GK)
Coach: Brett Angell

Lowdown

The pain of Tasman United’s 4-1 loss to Team Wellington last weekend was worsened by the news that Canterbury United – the side holding on to that all-important fourth place – earned a win, stretching their advantage over Tasman to three points. It would be disastrous for Tasman if that were to increase to six – particularly as Canterbury have a game in hand – so this match is hugely important to their play-off chances. Hawke’s Bay are also still harbouring hopes of sneaking into the play-offs though so will be approaching this fixture in just a determined frame of mind. Their 2-0 win over Eastern Suburbs last time out may have given them the confidence to pull off a sixth successive play-off placing and coach Brett Angell will have been delighted to see new signing Tinashe Marowa get off the mark with a goal on debut. He will not be available to face his former side though and Hawke’s Bay are missing several other mainstays, leaving the match day squad with a youthful look. Tasman also had a debutant scorer last weekend in the form of local stalwart Ben Wright, who will look to make the most of his long-awaited national league chance over the coming weeks. Firing Tasman to the play-offs would be a real fairy-tale for a hugely popular figure among football folk in Nelson.

Quotes

Brett Angell (Hawke’s Bay United coach): “We’ve got a few injury and non-availability issues which are testing the depth of the squad. But I do feel it gives some of the younger boys a chance to show their wares and I’ve got more than enough confidence that whatever squad we put out will be more than a match for the opposition. Tasman have had a bit of a turnaround in their player base and that will have an impact but we’re expecting a difficult game.”

Canterbury United vs Southern United
English Park, Christchurch
Sunday 4 February, 2pm
#ISPSHandaPrem #CUvSU

Referee: CK Waugh
Assistant Referees: I Trevis, J Henderson
Fourth Official: H McCabe

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), 14. Sean Liddicoat, 16. Cory Mitchell, 17. Stephen Hoyle, 19. Francis de Vries, 20. Roddy Lockhart, 30. Seth Clark
Coach: Willy Gerdsen

Southern United: 1. Tom Stevens (GK), 2. Conor O’Keeffe, 3. Tom Connor, 4. Kristian Gibson, 5. Stephen Last, 6. Danny Ledwith, 8. Jared Grove, 10. Danny Furlong, 11. Tim McLennan, 15. Hamish Cotter, 14. Andy Ridden, 16. Liam Little (GK), 17. Nick Treadwell, 20. Alex Ridsdale, 23. Ben Wade, 25. Andrew Cromb
Coach: Paul O’Reilly

Lowdown

Southern United are one of four sides looking to crack into the play-off picture and, while a win here would be a massive boost to their own chances, it would also ironically open the door for their fellow contenders, who are all hoping fourth-placed Canterbury United slip up over the coming weeks. Regardless of what’s at stake in the context of the season, this South Island derby is always a feisty affair and Southern will be out to do exactly what Canterbury did to them in the reverse fixture, which saw the Dragons triumph 2-0. Both sides are coming off the back of wins but have struggled for consistency across the season, Canterbury picking up six wins to Southern’s four. The visitors’ biggest challenge in Christchurch is likely to be finding the net as Canterbury have the second-meanest defence in the league while Southern are among the lowest scorers. They showed signs of improvement at the other end last week though with a 1-0 win over Waitakere United brining their second clean sheet of the season. They will take confidence from the fact that six of their last seven meetings with Canterbury have resulted in victories for the away team, including Southern’s superb 3-1 win last season.

Quotes

Coey Turipa (Canterbury United goalkeeper): “We’re a good team and we were always going to get results. It’s in our hands at the moment and if we keep winning then I don’t see why we can’t finish in the top two. Southern have turned things around this season and they’re a really gritty team. But we’re getting heaps of chances a game so if we take a few of those then our defence and myself feel like we can hold them out.”

Conor O’Keeffe (Southern United captain): “It’s definitely going to be a tough game, we’ve been watching their games and we know what they’ve got. They have plenty of strengths – they’re a big, physical side and have good players in attack. But it’s definitely a game we’re looking at that we can get something from and it’s a derby as well so that adds a bit more to the game. We’re just going to try to put in the same performance we had against Waitakere. We want to be sound defensively and look to take our chances.”

Waitakere United vs Hamilton Wanderers
The Trusts Arena, Auckland
Sunday 4 February, 2pm
#ISPSHandaPrem #WUvHW

Referee: C Mills
Assistant Referees: T Chang, L Agnew
Fourth Official: A Maharaj

Squads

Waitakere United: 22. Josh Dijkstra (GK), 5. Julyan Collett, 7. Yuki Ohtsuka, 8. Andre Estay, 9. Ryan Cain, 10. Eder Franchini Pasten, 11. Keegan Linderboom, 14. David Parkinson, 17. Jake Butler, 18. Kris Carpenter, 19. Tom Shaw, 21. Dylan Windust, 23. Dylan Manickum, 28. Liam Anderson (GK)
Coach: Chris Milicich

Hamilton Wanderers: 1. Matt Oliver (GK), 3. Joe Nottage, 4. Liam Fellowes, 5. Sam O’Regan, 7. Patrick Aisa, 8. Steffano Riley, 10. Armin Pasagic, 11. Jordan Shaw, 12. Raheem Hunter, 13. Tommy Semmy, 17. Xavier Pratt, 18. Alexis Carcamo-Varela, 20. Jerahl Hughes, 21. Liam Hayes, 22. Federico Cruz, 23. David Masters (GK)
Coach: Ricki Herbert

Lowdown

At one stage, Waitakere United were well placed to launch a play-off bid but the wheels have come off their campaign somewhat in recent weeks. Alarmingly for coach Chris Milicich, they have now picked up just three points from their last five games – hardly top-four form, especially at such a crucial point in the season. The upside is that they are still in reach of fourth spot but the west Aucklanders will need to turn things around immediately to have any chance of extending their season. A home fixture against the bottom-placed side appears to offer them the perfect opportunity to get their late charge underway and Milicich will be fully expecting all three points here. Hamilton Wanderers’ season of woe continued last weekend with a 1-0 loss to Auckland City and they have now equalled the competition record of 23 games without a win. They will need to beat Waitakere to avoid the ignominy of setting a new one.

Auckland City vs Team Wellington
Kiwitea Street, Auckland
Sunday 4 February, 4.35pm
#ISPSHandaPrem #ACvTW
Live on SKY Sport

Referee: N Waldron
Assistant Referees: H Tutbury, S Merriman
Fourth Official: A Wilson

Squads

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, 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
Coach: Ramon Tribulietx

Team Wellington: 1.Scott Basalaj (GK), 2. Justin Gulley, 3. Scott Hilliar, 4. Mario Ilich, 5. Liam Wood, 6. Taylor Schrijvers, 7. Eric Molloy, 10. Nati Hailemariam, 11. Mario Barcia, 12. Andy Bevin, 13. Roy Kayara, 14. Jack-Henry Sinclair, 16. Angus Kilkolly, 19. Ross Allen, 21. Daniel Mulholland, 22. Marcel Kampman (GK)
Coach: Jose Figueira

Lowdown

This is undoubtedly the game of the round as it pits the two most successful sides in the competition’s recent history against each other. In keeping with their lofty reputations, Auckland City and Team Wellington currently occupy the top two positions and, while their play-off places appear safe, the outcome here will have a major bearing on the destination of the minor premiership title. The Navy Blues are currently just a point ahead of the men from the capital and a win would give them a significant advantage going into the final rounds. It’s a long time since these teams met as the reverse fixture came in the first game of the season, in which Wellington ran out 3-1 winners. Auckland will be looking to exact revenge for that loss, as well as for the past two grand finals. After claiming a pair of titles in a row in 2014 and 2015, City have been forced to give up their crown to Wellington for the past two years, despite securing the minor premiership on both occasions. They will be determined to finally earn the right to officially call themselves the best team in the country again this year.

Quotes

Ramon Tribulietx (Auckland City coach): “This is the biggest game in the ISPS Handa Premiership for us but we have played many games like this in the past and that experience helps the players relax in the right way. The two teams know each other very well but Team Wellington have a few new players at the moment which gives them a different flair. They are a tough opponent, a physical team and strong on the counter attack and with set pieces.”

Jose Figueira (Team Wellington coach): “With any big game there is a bit of a buzz around training and the players always look forward to these big matches. Naturally, there is always a bit of tension whenever Team Wellington and Auckland City play each other.  We know there is also some pride at stake but we haven't put any extra pressure on the players. We’re going up there to replicate what we do every week and wanting to dominate the game, with and without the ball.”