Canterbury United try to decide own destiny

Canterbury United coach Keith Braithwaite says the Dragons want to decide their own destiny in tomorrow's must-win national football league match in Wellington.

Team Wellington and Canterbury are both chasing a top-four playoffs place in a bid to break the Auckland City-Waitakere United New Zealand Football Championship title duopoly.

Tomorrow's rivals are locked on 18 points with the Dragons' nose in front through a vastly superior goals difference ratio.

The Porirua Park clash will be Wellington's last regular season game. Canterbury – surprise losers to Hawke's Bay United last week – have a game up their sleeve against Auckland City at English Park on March 21.

But the Dragons do not want to have to rely on taking points off defending champions Auckland to book a berth in the top-four. Braithwaite wants to seal the deal tomorrow.

It could all become academic if Youngheart Manawatu beats fifth-placed Otago United in Dunedin today.

"But we don't want to rely on other teams," Braithwaite insisted. "We want to do it ourselves. If we get a result on Sunday, then Wellington have gone.

"But it's going to be a very tough game. They're the only team we haven't got points off yet."

The Dragons suffered their only home game defeat when they crashed 1-4 to Wellington in January with Braithwaite rating Stu Jacobs' side – which boasts four recent All Whites – as the best team Canterbury had played all season.

But that result was skewed slightly with Canterbury down to 10 men for 85 minutes after Jeremy Wild was harshly sent off. They were also without ex-All Whites centreback Gareth Rowe.

Rowe has since returned to the heart of the Canterbury defence.

His experience will be vital tomorrow against a Wellington attack led by ex-All White Greg Draper, a former Phoenix and Canterbury United striker.

"Gareth played very well for us last week [against Hawke's Bay] and he rises to the big occasion," Braithwaite said. "We need everyone to rise with him this weekend."

Young midfielders Darren Overton, Tom Lancaster and Aaron Clapham will be crucial to Canterbury's chances.

Rowe's centreback partner Matt Boyd, who left the field at halftime in Napier with a head injury, has been cleared to play after training Thursday.

Canterbury have not won in Wellington in seven NZFC visits.

SQUADS

Canterbury: Tom Batty (gk), Daniel Burns, Matt Boyd, Gareth Rowe, Nick Wortelboer, Paul Dirou, Darren Overton, Andy Pitman, Aaron Clapham, Tom Lancaster, Russell Kamo, Glen Collins, Hue Frame, Dominic McGarr, Jordan Swaney, Jordan Buchanan (res.gk). Wellington: James Bannatyne (gk), Jamie Duncan, Chris Bale, Michael Winsauer, Chris Davies, Karl Whalen, Garry McDermott, Cole Peverley, Andy Barron, Bryan Little, Greg Draper, Richard McLay, Michael Fifii, Roddy Brown, Jamie McKay (res.gk).

- © Fairfax NZ News