While the Auckland derby may not have the same tradition as some of world football’s other great rivalries (each club was only formed in 2004 when the New Zealand national league was restructed), the two sides do nonetheless have a history of full-blooded, closely-fought encounters over the last six years.
They have dominated the New Zealand Football Championship – now known as the ASB Premiership – since its inception and no other teams have ever taken the title. Auckland have four championship wins to their name while Waitakere have two.
This dominance has also extended outside New Zealand borders and into the O-League.
Papua New Guinea side Hekari United became the first to break the Auckland-Waitakere stranglehold on the trophy last season when they upset Waitakere 4-2 on aggregate in the final. Prior to that, Waitakere won the inaugural title in 2007 and added another in 2008 before Auckland claimed their first O-League triumph in 2009.
This weekend’s meeting will be the ninth time the two sides have faced each other in the competition and each camp is in bullish mood.
It has only been a matter of days since they last clashed – Waitakere earning the spoils in a 3-1 win at City’s Kiwitea St ground in the ASB Premiership – and Auckland are keen to exact some revenge for that result.
“I thought we were good until half-time last week,” co-coach Aaron McFarland says. “We need to continue that this week and impose ourselves.”
City have lost a lot of experience from last year’s line-up due to the retirement of stalwarts Keryn Jordan, Ki-Hyung Lee, Greg Uhlmann, Paul Urlovic and Grant Young, while Chad Coombes and Ivan Vicelich are in England and China respectively.
But McFarland, who is in joint charge of the side with Ramon Tribulietx, is happy with how the new-look team is coming together.
“You could say we are missing a bit of leadership but we are still learning how to play together as a team. I think it is gelling nicely.”
The Waitakere line-up also has a youthful look to it with the likes of Tim Myers, Jack Pelter, Dakota Lucas, Zane Sole, Sean Lovemore and Ashton Pett all playing roles so far this season.
But they have the edge over City in the experience stakes with player-coach Neil Emblen still on the roster and veterans Martin Bullock and Neil Sykes showing few signs of winding their careers down. Captain Jake Butler, who is now back with Waitakere after a trial stint in Singapore, has a fresher pair of legs than the likes of Bullock and Sykes, but also has plenty of experience under his belt.
The skipper celebrates his 26th birthday today and will be hoping his players can give him the ideal birthday present on Sunday.
Emblen has a full squad to pick from while City will be without diminutive striker Luis Corrales and playmaker David Mulligan due to injury.
The game takes place at Fred Taylor Park on Sunday from 2pm.
The squads are as follows:
Waitakere United: 1. Danny ROBINSON [GK], 2. Jason ROWLEY, 3. Aaron SCOTT, 4. Tim MYERS, 6. Jack PELTER, 7. Martin BULLOCK, 8. Chris BALE. 10. Allan PEARCE, 11. Neil SYKES, 12. Roy KRISHNA, 13. Mike GWYTHER, 16. Neil Emblen, 17. Jake BUTLER, 18. Zane SOLE, 19. Dakota LUCAS, 20. Ryan DE VRIES, 22. Liam LITTLE [GK], 25. Sean LOVEMORE.
Coach: Neil EMBLEN
Auckland City: 1. Jacob SPOONLEY [GK], 2. Angel BERLANGA, 3. Ian HOGG, 4. Sam CAMPBELL, 5. Phil EDGINTON, 6. Stuart KELLY, 7. James PRITCHETT, 11. Daniel KOPRIVCIC, 12. Matthew UPTON [GK], 13. Alex FENERIDIS, 14. Adam DICKINSON, 16. Takayuki OMI, 17. Adam McGEORGE, 19. Daniel MORGAN, 20. Riki VAN STEEDEN, 23. Adam THOMAS, 26. Aaron BAWDEKAR, 27. Sheldon PILLAY.
Coaches: Aaron McFARLAND and Ramon TRIBULIETX
Please note: Delayed broadcast of the match will be aired in New Zealand at 10:00pm Monday 15 November on Stratos Television (Sky Digital 89 and Freeview Channel 21).