Rowe faces final Dragons hurdle

Former All White Gareth Rowe should return to the Canterbury United Dragons' matchday squad if he gets through a final training session tomorrow.

Rowe has not played since the final pre-Christmas round after suffering a calf strain which kept him on the sidelines for the last three New Zealand Football Championship matches.

But the seasoned centreback has been named in the squad for tomorrow's clash with Youngheart Manawatu at English Park.

"Gareth's completed all the sessions so far this week and if he comes through our last one [today], he'll be back in the squad," Braithwaite said.

"If he's back, it will be the first time this season that we'll have everyone available for selection. Darren Overton's also back [from holiday]."

Braithwaite said the Dragons, who are fifth on 11 points from eight games, needed a win over Manawatu "to stay in with a playoffs shout" after last week's visit to Hawke's Bay was aborted due to an unplayable pitch.

"We've got to get into the game early and make our presence count."

Manawatu is in sixth place – one point behind Canterbury – and has struggled since making a bright start. A defeat in Christchurch would put an almost irreparable dent in their top-four playoff aspirations.

The northerners boast a dangerous strikeforce with former All White Campbell Banks paired with Vanuatu international Seuele Soromon, the league's top marksman with eight goals.

"It'll be a tough game," Braithwaite said. "They've done well against us in the past but we drew with them 0-0 up there this season and ... we played well that day and should have got something out of the game, but we missed a few clear chances."

- © Fairfax NZ News