If Southern United can just find some middle ground, it might be able to salvage a mid-table finish.
At least, that is how striker Regan Coldicott sees it. The 24-year-old is in his fourth season with the club. He debuted as an 18-year-old but missed the next two seasons.
Whether the team has been called Southern United or Otago United, it has always struggled in the premiership. The two Auckland clubs have dominated the league while the Dunedin-based United has had a almost permanent spot towards the bottom of the competition table.
Perhaps nothing sums up Southern's efforts this season more than its contrasting results in round eight and round nine.
The league's normal pecking order was thrown into chaos when Southern stunned Waitakere 3-1 in Auckland on January 12.
Seasoned observers might have hoped the result was a turning point for the club. Sadly, round nine saw Southern crash to a 6-1 defeat to Hawkes Bay at home at Forsyth Barr Stadium.
It is that lack of consistency which has held United back.
''We just never know who is going to turn up, I suppose,'' Coldicott said.
''We have a good result like we did against Waitakere and then get beaten 6-1 at home.
''Hawkes Bay are a good side but that was pretty disappointing to have that happen.''
By ''turn up'', Coldicott was referring to the team's attitude, not its personnel, although there have been injuries.
''I don't know what it is. I think it is worthwhile trying to work out what it is.
''But we're competing against teams which have a lot deeper player pool and more money. It is always a bit of a battle.''
Southern rebounded well from its disappointing performance against Hawkes Bay with a 2-2 draw against Wellington and showed some promise in the opening half against Canterbury on Sunday.
Coldicott, who plays his club football for Mosgiel and works for Combined Rural Traders as part of the accounts receivable team, was one of the standout performers for Southern in the 2-0 loss.
With Brazilian striker Henrique Alves Viana ruled out for the remainder of the season, Coldicott is getting more game time.
He was not part of the shock result against Waitakere but thought his side's performance against Wellington was top drawer.
''They [Wellington] are a really handy outfit. We got beaten 3-1 by them up north earlier in the season. But we played really well. It was probably one of the better games I've been involved with and been part of.''
Under coach Luiz Uehara, Coldicott said United had been ''far more organised'' at the start of the season.
''There were a lot more [fitness] sessions each week and probably more of a commitment. But the guys are mostly the same.''
Southern has a busy end to the week. The team plays a catch-up match with Auckland City today and will return to Dunedin to host Waikato-Bay of Plenty on Sunday.
Auckland leads the league with 21 points from 10 matches but Waikato-Bay of Plenty has struggled. It is one place ahead of Southern but has played an extra game.
It makes sense for Southern, coached by Luiz Uehara, to perhaps target Sunday's game, which is clearly the easier of the two fixtures.
''Luiz has been saying that we are not targeting any game in particular. But I suppose if we look at our chances of picking up victories, that has to be a game we look at getting the three points, especially since we are at home.''
