Southern United is finally healthy.
After an injury-plagued start to the ASB Premiership, coach Mike Fridge has a full contingent of healthy players to pick from.
Midfielder Stu Kelly, who missed the past two games, is back to bolster the team against hosts Wellington tomorrow, while defender Ross Howard is finally over a groin injury.
Howard suffered the injury in the preseason and only returned to training a couple of weeks ago.
However, despite being fit, five players are unavailable for tomorrow's game due to work commitments.
The team will not get back to Dunedin until Monday, meaning Tom Connor, Tim McClennan, Tom McBride, Morgan Day and David Hayman had to rule themselves out.
"We're an amateur team,'' Fridge said.
"They can't get time off work. It's their livelihood, they don't get paid to play football. So it's something we have got to live with.''
Connor, McClennan and McBride all played in last week's 2-1 loss to WaiBOP United in Dunedin, and would probably have featured in the squad had they been available.
While Fridge's team has got rid of the injury bug, Wellington is still missing former Southern United striker Tom Jackson to injury.
He has not featured all season, and will not get the chance to haunt his old team tomorrow.
But Wellington, which is fourth in the league with two wins and a loss to show from its three games, will still provide a stern test at home.
"I think it's one of the hardest places to go in the league,'' Fridge said.
"They are a good side, it will be a very difficult game this weekend. We can't afford to give them easy goals. We need to tighten up.
"But it's a game we're very much looking forward to. There is no pressure on us. They are certainly going to be the favourites for the game. So hopefully we can go there and have a go and come away with something.''
The unavailability of a bunch of players has allowed forwards Regan Coldicott and Alex Williams to return to the fold.
Coldicott last featured in the season-opening 2-0 loss to Waitakere United last month, while Williams played in a 3-0 loss to Hawkes Bay last month.
"Some players are not available and we've tried to freshen things up at the same time,'' Fridge said.
With two games left until the Christmas break, Southern United is seventh in the league with a record of three wins and a loss.
The team failed to find the back of the net in its first two games, but has scored a goal in each of its past two games.
Fridge expected it to take a few weeks for the team to start clicking, and believes it is progressing each week.
"I think we're seeing an improvement,'' he said.
"But we just need that little bit of luck.
"We're not creating lots of chances, but every game we're getting one or two very good opportunities and just not taking them.''
Southern Utd v Wellington
Wellington, tomorrow, 4.35pm
Southern United: Tom Batty, Ross Howard, Jude Fitzpatrick, Matt Joy (captain), Rhys Ruka, Seamus Ryder, Andrew Ridden, Sam French, Zane Green, Stu Kelly, Harley Rodeka, Tristan Prattley, Alex Williams, Regan Coldicott, Sam Redwood.
Wellington (probable): Scott Basalaj, Liam Higgins, Steven Gulley, Anthony Hobbs, Bill Robertson, Chris Bale, Leonardo Villa, Cole Peverley, Mario Barcia, Andrew Bevin, James Musa, Joseph Dixon, Ben Harris, Fergus Neil, Conor McGlinchey, Alex Carr
