Waikato riding winds of change

Selection dilemmas, a two-game winning streak, a chance to upset the defending champions and the form player of the New Zealand Football Championship – how things have changed for Waikato FC.

They are by no means favourites going into tomorrow's game against Auckland City at Ngaruawahia's Centennial Park, but as player coach Che Bunce said: "If you're going to play Auckland City, better to do it when you're on a small run."

Auckland City are far and away the best team in the NZFC. Waikato are close to the other end of the eight-team league, but have showed with two wins in a row – the last a superb comeback from 2-0 down to beat YoungHeart Manawatu 3-2 – their languishing position on the table wasn't deserved.

Those two wins now have them off the foot of the table and, if the other games go Waikato's way, they could be standing on the edge of the playoffs by the end of the weekend.

Bunce's plan for tomorrow's game is the same as it's been for the last fortnight – focus on defence and any points you can grab are a bonus.

"I don't want to sound like a broken record, but a clean sheet is our No 1 goal," he said.

"To be honest, we just want to take as many points off the opposition as possible."

And to take any points off Auckland, who have won six of their eight games and drawn the others, would be more than most and help them in the playoff race.

With the top four teams to play from their last four games, Waikato have probably left their run too late, but this is clearly a different side to the one that saw the Christmas break in in dead last and playing poor football.

A bit of luck changed and more importantly, so did the belief.

They've now grown into a game plan, the miserable bad luck stopped and the team are moving up.

Waikato's Jeff Campbell and Auckland coach Paul Posa have both in the last week talked about Waikato FC being Auckland City's bogey team, but Bunce said with different teams turning out for Waikato each year, that wouldn't play a major part.

But the former All White does have a slight air of confidence in his voice and a win tomorrow would be like the shiniest of gold stars on his coaching CV.

Last year Dave Edmondson coached the Waikato side which ended Waitakere City's year-long unbeaten run and now he is in charge of a national team.

Auckland City haven't been beaten in nearly a year – in New Zealand – and Bunce, still in his infancy as a coach – would like nothing more than to get one over the old guard of New Zealand club football.

With captain Shaun van Rooyen coming back into the team after missing a week suspended, Bunce has a handful of selection problems. Before Christmas, just getting a full squad of fit and decent players was an issue, now his captain might have to fight for a starting spot in a crowded midfield.

After in the last week, it could be hard to leave out or move Campbell or Joey Simpkins.

And, as always, Bunce pushing forward to cause havoc in the air is an option.

"But we'll put the onus on them," he said.

"They want to win the competition, so they can come at us."

And judging by that statement, Bunce is likely to be the big nasty centre back taking full responsibility to stopping them.

Kickoff is 2pm tomorrow.

- © Fairfax NZ News