AUCKLAND – Waitakere United and Team Wellington are both ready to assume the vacant New Zealand Football Championship throne but face a final battle to earn their coronation.

The King is dead. Three-time winners Auckland City will not lift the trophy a fourth time, and Waitakere United and Team Wellington – who have conspired to keep them out of the season climax – each have a strong claim to the national league crown.

Waitakere inflicted the death knell on Auckland’s reign, piercing City’s aura of invincibility – and breaking their own three year hoodoo – by recording their first two on-field wins against their cross -own rivals.

But it was Wellington that delivered the Auckland dynasty its fatal blow, ousting City in last week’s preliminary final and removing the 12 game hex the  champions had cast on the Capital side.

Much earlier in the season many predicted a decline in Waitakere’s stocks when Wellington travelled north on opening day and announced their title credentials with a dramatic 2-1 win at Fred Taylor Park.

“Maybe first and last” Stu Jacobs said of the chance to bookend Wellington’s season with a Grand Final win over the West Aucklanders.

But Waitakere have shown since opening day that they are made from far sterner stuff, breaking the 50 point barrier to retain the Minor Premiership, are favourites to defend their O-league title and are now are firmly focused on adding the NZFC trophy to the cabinet.

“The minor premiership does not earn you the right to be called champions,” Waitakere football manager Chris Milicich said, “that right is earned in the 90 minutes on Sunday and we must approach it like we have all other matches this year with a clear mind and steely determination.”

While Waitakere may have broke all the league’s defensive benchmarks by posting 11 cleansheets and conceding a miserly 14 goals, Wellington have shown they know how to turn the defensive screws as well.

Stu Jacob’s men kept their opposition scoreless on 10 occasions, including a run of six straight during an unbroken 581 minutes without conceding.

Both sides have banged in the goals this season – 51 each – and have plenty of firepower to call on. Waitakere’s Benjamin Totori, Commins Menapi and Allan Pearce have recorded 29 goals between them while Luis Corrales and Graham Little have each posted double figures for Wellington.

Golden Boot winner Little, who has appeared in more NZFC matches (81) than anyone else, will hand up his boots after Sunday’s Grand Final, while at the other end of the experience scale. Fijian speedster Roy Krishna may make his fourth appearance although Chris Milicich is keeping his squad under wraps until Saturday.

Adam Birch is still sidelined by the hip injury that forced him out of the Preliminary Final, meaning Phil Imray will again wear the armband if Birch is a confirmed non-starter.

Waitakere’s Neil Sykes and Paul Seaman continue their run of appearing in every Grand Final and chase a fourth winners medal having collected four in Auckland colours.

NZFC Grand Final

Waitakere United v Team Wellington

Douglas Field at Trusts Stadium

Sunday 20 April

Kickoff: 2pm

Story Courtesy of NZF Media. For more information visit www.nzsoccer.com