AUCKLAND – The expanded top-four New Zealand Football Championship playoffs roar into action this weekend with red-hot Team Wellington tackling the Champions in a re-match of last year’s Grand Final while YoungHeart Manawatu and Auckland City re-ignite a dormant playoff rivalry.

The ties will be played on a home-and-away basis for the first time, and underdogs Manawatu and Wellington will need to make the most of home advantage before the Auckland-based return legs next weekend. Away goals could decide the winner if the aggregate scores are tied so the first legs could be tense and tight affairs.

Waitakere’s record this season suggests it’ll be hard enough beating them over ninety minutes, let alone 180, so to oust the champions Wellington will need every ounce of the form that has seen them win five of their last six to make the playoffs.

But if the team from the capital have been the league’s irresistible force of late, then runaway minor premiers Waitakere United are its immovable object. Only two teams have beaten the reigning New Zealand champions this season – Waikato in the NZFC and Adelaide United in at the Club World Cup – and with key players back from injury or enforced rest, the odds are short on Waitakere defending their crown.

Three-time winners Auckland finished the regular season as runners up and will earn New Zealand’s second O-League spot for next season unless Manawatu or Wellington win the March 29 Grand Final.

But two seasons ago Manawatu were in a similar position, due to qualify for the O-League until Auckland defeated them in the preliminary final and went on to win the grand final.

YoungHeart fans would love to see some payback, while the Kiwitea Street faithful have their eyes on the trophy ‘missing’ from their cabinet for the past season.

Meanwhile, a top of the table clash between Auckland City and Waitakere United at Kiwitea Street tops the bill in the Lion Foundation Youth League on Saturday, while on Sunday, the slim final hopes of both Hawke’s Bay United and Auckland-Manukau go on the line at Park Island.

Story and photos courtesy of NZF Media

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