Southern United will have a good idea where it sits following its opening premiership game at Forsyth Barr Stadium tomorrow afternoon.
It has drawn Auckland City first up. The visiting side has made the final for the past five years and remains a firm favourite to make that six this season.
Southern is at the other end of the spectrum. It managed just three wins and a draw from 18 games last season and finished at the bottom of the table.
A gentle opener would have been appreciated but getting Auckland while the side is still fresh might not be a bad draw, although coach Paul O’Reilly was undecided on the merits of such a tough match early on.
"Look, it will be a huge challenge. It is probably the hardest challenge we will get all season," he said.
"You’ll have to ask me after the match on Sunday whether it is a good thing or not.
"I think Auckland and Team Wellington are ahead of everyone else in terms of experience, budget and the quality of players they have. They are certainly on another level.
"But we’ve got to focus on ourselves because if we sat and worried about all the quality that Auckland have, we’d probably get nowhere.
"The main focus for us is to work hard ... and defensively we have to be good. If we are not defensively solid against Auckland then it is going to be a long and tough day.
"Everything will build off having a good defensive platform."
O’Reilly has targeted defence as the area his side will need to make its greatest improvements.
The team is targeting a top-six finish and the arrival of experienced defenders Roland Bala and Kristian Gibson should ensure there is some more starch at the back.
They will join Stephen Last and Conor O’Keeffe in the back four, while Danny Ledwith remains the key man in the midfield.
Irish import Danny Furlong returns and will spearhead the attack. He is joined by new arrivals Omar Guardiola (Nelson Suburbs) and Limerick striker Garbhan Coughlan.
The 24-year-old Coughlan helped Limerick win the Irish first division last year and he will bring some real pace to the forward line-up.
Liam Little is a quality keeper and will be backed up by the promising Tom Stevens.
Southern United gave Auckland some nervous moments last season. While Auckland won both fixtures, the games were keenly contested.
Auckland needed a late goal for a 1-0 win in Invercargill, and a heavily depleted Southern showed plenty of resolve in a midweek match in Auckland later in the season.
Two-time defending champion Team Wellington made a positive start in its bid for a three-peat with a win over Auckland City in last weekend’s Charity Cup, which doubled as a premiership fixture.
The Jose Figueira-led side will continue its title defence at home to Eastern Suburbs tomorrow.
Ricki Herbert’s Hamilton Wanderers host Tasman United and Waitakere United faces a trip to Christchurch to play the Canterbury United Dragons.
The remaining fixture will be played on Monday when Hawke’s Bay United hosts the Wellington Phoenix in Napier.
• The Southern United women’s team plays Central in Palmerston North tomorrow.
Coach Terry Parle was still deciding on the make-up of the final squad yesterday but the team will be bathing in the warm afterglow of its victory against Auckland last weekend.
It was the team’s first win in the national league for four years.
• Southern gets its National Futsal League campaign under way this weekend with back-to-back games against Mainland at the Edgar Centre.
Southern United v Auckland City
Forsyth Barr Stadium, tomorrow, 2pm
Southern United: Andy Ridden, Ben Wade, Cody Brook, Conor O’Keeffe, Danny Furlong, Garbhan Coughlan, Hamish Cotter, Jared Grove, Kristian Gibson, Liam Little, Morgan Day, Omar Guardiola, Roland Bala, Stephen Last, Tom Connor, Tom Stevens.
Auckland City (from): Enaut Zubikarai, Liam Graham, Takuya Iwata, Mario Bilen, Angel Berlanga, Te Atawhai Hudson-Wihongi, Cam Howieson, Albert Riera, Darren White, Ryan de Vries, Fabrizio Tavano, Kris Bright, Alfie Rogers, Dan Morgan, Daewook Kim, Reid Drake, Danyon Drake, Emiliano Tade.
