Otago United will start without captain Tristan Prattley in its final match of the season against Waikato in Hamilton tomorrow.
Defender Prattley's classy form earned him a place in February's ASB Premiership team of the month, as well as selection into the New Zealand Olympic squad.
Otago coach Richard Murray said Prattley had worked hard to earn Olympic selection and the whole club wished him well.
Prattley played in the recent 10-0 win over Tonga, but sterner tests lie ahead. The win confirms the Oly Whites as group B winners, following a 1-0 win over Papua New Guinea, which also progresses to the final four. New Zealand will meet either Fiji or Vanuatu in a semifinal.
Back at the less glamorous Tahuna Park, Murray again needed more than one hand to count his walking wounded.
Possibly the fastest player at training was Seamus Ryder, but while he can run, his shoulder injury precludes him from playing tomorrow.
Like an anatomical textbook, the injury list reads: Regan Coldicott (calf), Donnie MacGregor (hamstring), Jose Cantillo (calf), Os Rodriguez (finger) and Morgan Day (knee).
One bright note is the return of gritty midfielder Sam Mepham, back from a week's suspension.
Murray will conduct late fitness tests before tomorrow's game, and expects some players to recover for this final match.
"The important component will be more psychological than physical," he said.
"If we can recreate the second half we had against Auckland last time out, then we can bring home all three points."
Waikato has an albatross round its neck, not having registered a home win all season, but Declan Edge's side is on a roll just now. Waikato secured a finals berth in the White Ribbon Cup with a 3-1 win over Manawatu last Sunday.
A win for Waikato would see the Hamilton-based franchise leapfrog Otago United into sixth place, a position the southerners can claim for themselves, if they avoid defeat.
A win for Otago would stamp respectability on this season, with a sixth placing that has rarely been bettered.
Otago v Waikato
Hamilton, tomorrow, 1pm
Otago United: Oswaldo Rodriguez, Liam Lockhart, Jude Fitzpatrick, Matt Joy, Morgan Day, Regan Coldicott, Donnie MacGregor, Ant Hancock, James Govan, Jackson Mitchell, Sam Mepham, Harley Rodeka, Jose Cantillo, Peter Evans, Andrew Ridden, Craig Ferguson, James Watson, Aajay Cunningham.
Waikato: Tyler Lissette, Jesse Smith, Mohammed Awad, Mike Kramer, Michael Mayne, Josh Greene, Jesse Edge, Dan Looker, Harry Edge, Tyler Boyd, Adam Wallis, Jordan Shaw, Ryan Thomas, Danyon Drake.