Champion Technical has three games in hand that will assist in closing the large points deficit. The Culling Park club will need to play some midweek matches to cut into the backlog of unplayed games, after having last Saturday's match against Green Island postponed due to a water-logged pitch at Sunnyvale.
This is its second match disrupted by weather this season. The side also has one catch-up game from its Chatham Cup campaign so far, and another league fixture due to be moved to the end of the season, to accommodate the Chatham Cup quarterfinal against Christchurch club Cashmere Technical.
Front runner Caversham will be without defender Rhys Henderson, who is nursing a hamstring strain, but will otherwise field a strong line-up intent on pressurising Northern and punishing any possession given to it through player indecision.
Northern's goalkeeper Blair Brown has been in good form during the season, picking up several player of the day awards. He is sure to be tested again today as Caversham captain Seamus Ryder and students Sam Collier and Charles Owen threaten the Northern goal with some well worked attacking play. Northern will rely on club stalwart Craig Wilkinson and Emmet MacLaurin to win their share of possession in midfield and supply quality attacking passes to front runners Bob Cox and Taylor Quirck.
Dunedin Technical will be itching to get 90 minutes of football under its belt when it entertains a full strength and confident Queenstown Rovers side at Tahuna Park. Technical will be without striker Tom McBride, who is on holiday, while the league's top scorer Taylor McCormick is in doubt due to a strained knee.
Third-placed University will be missing Tane Gent from its starting line-up but will still field a strong team against visitors Roslyn-Wakari at Forrester Park. Roslyn-Wakari will be without its regular keeper Mike Rae, who is injured. Roslyn's two former Melchester Rovers junior players Mike Sannum and Ben O'Farrell will be unavailable due to New Zealand Futsal Whites and New Zealand Football under-17 training camps, respectively.
In the final game of the round at Sunnyvale, last-placed Green Island will be looking for a win over neighbour Mosgiel and capturing three valuable competition points as it attempts to lift itself from the foot of the table.
- Wilson James.
