Find out what’s in store in the ISPS Handa Premiership this weekend with the official preview of all four games.

Tasman United vs Auckland City
Saxton Fields, Nelson
Saturday 17 February, 2pm
#ISPSHandaPrem #TUvAC

Referee: R Fleetham
Assistant Referees: C Gruschow, R Preston
Fourth Official: B O’Connell

Squads

Tasman United: 1. Corey Wilson (GK), 2. Luca Perico, 3. Ed Sillars, 5. Mark Johnston, 8. Paul Ifill, 9. Maksym Kowal, 13. Labu Pan, 16. Daniel Allan, 17. Callan Elliot, 18. Matt Tod-Smith, 19. Lyle Matthysen, 20. Alex Britton (GK), 21. Yousif Al-Kalisy
Coach: Davor Tavich

Auckland City: 1. Enaut Zubikarai (GK), 4. Mario Bilen, 6. Te Atawhai Hudson-Wihongi, 7. Cam Howieson, 8. Albert Riera, 11. Fabrizio Tavano, 13. Alfie Rogers, 14. Cole Peverley, 15. Dan Morgan, 17. Reid Drake, 19. Micah Lea’alafa, 20. Emiliano Tade, 24. Conor Tracey (GK), 26. Callum McCowatt, 27. Dalton Wilkins
Coach: Ramon Tribulietx

Lowdown

The play-off chances of Tasman United suffered a near fatal blow with defeat to Eastern Suburbs last weekend but they still have a mathematical chance of edging ahead of fourth-placed Canterbury United. A win here is a must for those faint hopes to stay alive though so the South Islanders have no choice but to have a real go against Auckland City. The Navy Blues ensured their campaign would definitely progress past the regular season with a 3-0 victory over Hawke’s Bay United last time out so their attention will now officially turn to securing the minor premiership title, an honour they have claimed in each of the past four seasons and which brings with it automatic qualification for the OFC Champions League. With Team Wellington snapping at their heels so sharply, they cannot afford to drop many points and will feel they have something to prove in this one after beating Tasman 3-1 earlier in the season but seeing that result overturned due to the fielding of an ineligible player. Tasman will need to be far tighter at the back to claim an upset as their defensive record is better than only the bottom two teams while Auckland possess the most free-scoring attack in the league. But City have been just as impressive at the other end in recent weeks and will set a new league record of consecutive clean sheets if they notch their sixth on Saturday.

Quotes

Ramon Tribulietx (Auckland City coach): “We’ve kept the opposition scoreless for a while now but I don’t like to talk much about records themselves. We’ll try to play our game, dominate the ball and if we do that and control the game we know we’ll create chances sooner or later. Mentally, our focus is on the game – we don't want to look at the ladder too much.”

Southern United vs Wellington Phoenix Reserves
Sunnyvale Park, Dunedin
Sunday 18 February, 2pm
#ISPSHandaPrem #SUvWP

Referee: C Mills
Assistant Referees: A Verolino, J Henderson
Fourth Official: C Berg

Squads

Southern United: 1. Liam Little (GK), 2. Conor O’Keeffe, 3. Tom Connor, 4. Kristian Gibson, 5. Stephen Last, 6. Danny Ledwith, 7. Omar Guardiola, 8. Jared Grove, 9. Garbhan Coughlan, 11. Tim McLennan, 14. Andy Ridden, 16. Tom Stevens (GK), 18. Nick Treadwell, 20. Alex Ridsdale, 26. Luke Clissold
Coach: Paul O’Reilly

Wellington Phoenix Reserves: 1. Keegan Smith (GK), 3. Jacob Williams, 4. Liam Moore, 8. Ollie Whyte, 10. Willem Ebbinge, 11. Sam Sutton, 12. Ollie Valentine, 14. Alex Rufer, 21. Owen Smith, 23. Benjamin Waine, 40. Oliver Sail (GK), 45. Adam Parkhouse, 46. Logan Rogerson, 50. Kurtis Mogg, 51. Noah Tipene-Clegg, 57. Jackson Manuel
Coach: Chris Greenacre

Lowdown

With these sides both in the bottom three, this clash has little impact on the make-up of the rest of the league. But there is plenty to play for nonetheless as Southern United could still claim a berth in the top half – a huge improvement on finishing last in the previous campaign – while the Wellington Phoenix will be desperate to avoid the wooden spoon. That task looks a lot less certain than it did earlier in the season as last-placed Hamilton Wanderers have been on the improve and appear capable of picking up a couple of wins in their remaining matches. The ‘Wee Nix’ could therefore need to win at least one more game to hold off the challenge of Wanderers, who they are set to meet a week after Sunday’s match. The Southern squad has suffered a significant blow in recent days with the news that star striker Danny Furlong, who notched 12 goals in 22 appearances for the club, has headed back to Ireland to take up a contract with Galway United. It’s not an area of the pitch in which coach Paul O’Reilly can afford to lose such quality as his side are the second-lowest scorers in the league. His defensive stocks will be boosted though as centre back Kristian Gibson returns from suspension. The Phoenix have had the edge over Southern in recent years with United not earning a win since 2015.

Quotes

Chris Greenacre (Wellington Phoenix coach): “We’ve taken some huge strides since we last played Southern and, although the results probably haven’t reflected that, I think we’ve learned a hell of a lot. We’re going there on the back of a poor result last week against Canterbury but there were some huge positive steps so we’ll be going down there with lots of confidence and are really looking forward to the game.”

Team Wellington vs Waitakere United
David Farrington Park, Wellington
Sunday 18 February, 2pm
#ISPSHandaPrem #TWvWU

Referee: A Riley
Assistant Referees: M Whitehead, T Pedley
Fourth Official: J Rowbury

Squads

Team Wellington: 1. Scott Basalaj (GK), 2. Justin Gulley, 3. Scott Hilliar, 4. Mario Ilich, 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, 18. Sekou Diane, 19. Ross Allen, 22. Marcel Kampman (GK)
Coach: Jose Figueira

Waitakere United: 28. Liam Anderson (GK), 5. Julyan Collett, 7. Yuki Ohtsuka, 8. Andre Estay, 9. Ryan Cain, 10. Eder Franchini Pasten, 11. Keegan Linderboom, 14. David Parkinson, 18. Kris Carpenter, 19. Tom Shaw, 21. Dylan Windust, 23. Dylan Manickum, 24. Nicolas Zambrano, 26. Joshua Dijkstra (GK), 36. Christian Gray
Coach: Chris Milicich

Lowdown

Team Wellington’s place in the play-offs is now secure but there is plenty of work still to be done as they look to claim the minor premiership. Aside from the kudos of qualifying for the OFC Champions League, topping the table would be a sweet moment for Jose Figueira and his men as – despite winning consecutive league titles – it’s not something the club has achieved in its history. Indeed, only two sides have ever claimed that mantle and both hail from the City of Sails – Auckland City and Waitakere United. The latter may be keen to help keep it that way by inflicting a blow on Wellington’s chances but the prospect of fierce rivals Auckland City celebrating another title would also not sit comfortably with Waitakere. If the last meeting between these sides at David Farrington Park is anything to go by, the locals will be in for a treat as that tie turned out to be one of the most entertaining in the competition’s history, Wellington eventually triumphing on penalties after a stunning 6-6 draw. Waitakere are in a poor run of form – they haven’t won since December 10 – but will take confidence from the fact they are one of only two sides to have beaten Wellington this season.

Quotes

Jose Figueira (Team Wellington coach): “By their standards, Waitakere are probably not having the season they wanted but, with Chris [Milicich] and the quality of players and experience they have, they are going to provide a really huge challenge for us. We found that in the first game and we’ve had a few thrilling games against them before that as well.”

Chris Milicich (Waitakere United coach): “They’re travelling pretty well at the minute and have got some good results in tough situations so we’re in no doubt about what we’re facing this weekend. Alternatively, we’ve had a weekend off and it’s given us the opportunity to freshen the boys up a bit and try a few things in training. We’re looking forward to it.”

Hamilton Wanderers vs Canterbury United
Porritt Stadium, Hamilton
Sunday 18 February, 4.35pm
#ISPSHandaPrem #HWvCU
Live on SKY Sport 

Referee: H McCabe
Assistant Referees: B Norman, A Lamberth
Fourth Official: A Wilson

Squads

Hamilton Wanderers: 1. Matt Oliver (GK), 3. Joe Nottage, 5. Sam O’Regan, 7. Patrick Aisa, 8. Steffano Riley, 10. Armin Pasagic, 11. Jordan Shaw, 12. Raheem Hunter, 13. Tommy Semmy, 15. Alex Frank, 16. Hamish Smylie, 17. Xavier Pratt, 21. Liam Hayes, 22. Federico Cruz, 23. David Masters (GK)
Coach: Ricki Herbert

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, 14. Sean Liddicoat, 16. Cory Mitchell, 17. Stephen Hoyle, 19. Francis de Vries, 21. Tom Batty (GK), 30. Seth Clark
Coach: Willy Gerdsen

Lowdown

Hamilton Wanderers finally posted their first win of the season with a 2-1 upset of Waitakere in their last outing but will be frustrated at not getting the chance to turn that into some momentum until this weekend. The quirks of the draw have meant they haven’t taken the field since that long-awaited triumph a fortnight ago and they’ll be itching to get back out there to try to make it two on the trot. That won’t be easy though as they are coming up against an opponent who need the points to secure the fourth and final play-off spot. Six points ahead of nearest challengers Tasman United and with a game in hand, Canterbury United are very much in the box seat to finish the job and will see this game against the bottom-placed side as the perfect opportunity to do so. After a sluggish start to the season, the Dragons have found form at the right time and outclassed Hamilton 3-0 in the previous meeting between the teams. The hosts’ main motivation in the final weeks of their campaign is to avoid the wooden spoon and they will need three points here to have a realistic chance of overhauling the Phoenix.

Quotes

Willy Gerdsen (Canterbury United coach): “This will be a very difficult game for us. The Wanderers have been much improved in the second half of the season and you can see that in their results – they lost 1-0 against Auckland City, drew with Tasman and beat Waitakere away. So it will be a different team to the first time we played them. But we’re well aware of the threats they possess and we’ll be prepared.”