Defending champions Auckland face a tough test against AS Manu Ura in Papeete on Friday evening while Tafea also play away to Papua New Guinea’s Hekari United on Saturday, with both matches kicking off almost simultaneously.
Group B challengers Lautoka then host Marist at Churchill Park on Sunday before next weekend’s clash between Waitakere United and AS Magenta rounds out Match Day 4 of Oceania’s premier club competition.
A number of new players are expected to feature this weekend following the confirmation of squads for the second half of the O-League. Hekari have boosted their ranks with the signing of five Solomon Islands Internationals in Henry Fa’arodo, Gideon Omokirio, Stanley Waita, Alick Maemae and Eddie Ngaitin, who franchise owner John Kapi-Natto believes will be key players for the rest of the season.
“I brought these players for a mission and that is to give us victory,” said Kapi-Natto.
Hekari will be without Fijian import Pita Bolatoga who is out through suspension while compatriot Lorima Dau has returned to Fiji. But Kapi-Natto is still confident about Hekari’s chances.

“For me personally, I believe this is our year. All our players need to focus and be mentally strong if we are to take the three points away from Tafea.”
Auckland City, who have a two point buffer over Waitakere United in Group A, will be brimming with confidence after their heroic fifth-place finish at the FIFA Club World Cup last December and strong performances in the New Zealand Football Championship. Manu Ura have also shown impressive domestic form sitting top of the Championnat D1. Both teams are affected by suspensions with Adam Dickinson out for Auckland and Rex Faura unavailable for the home side.
Marist are the only team without a point in the competition but coach Patrick Miniti says there is no reason why they can’t cause an upset against Lautoka on Sunday.
“At this stage of the competition, and with our position on the ladder, the pressure is more on our opponents so we hope to use that to our advantage.”
Miniti has also made the most of the transfer window recruiting George Lui, one of the country’s most experienced midfielders. Lui is expected to strengthen Marist’s attack along with pace man Michael Sira who has also joined the squad.
Lautoka sit second in Group B with six points, one behind Tafea, and will be keen to impress at home this weekend. They may however be short of strike power with recently named 2009 Fiji Footballer of the Year Kamal Hassan and key players Valerio Nawatu and Iaitia Tuilau out through suspension. Despite the setback, Lautoka FA President Shalendra Prasad remains upbeat.

“Our preparation has been going well. This match is do or die for us, we have to prove ourselves and win at home.”
Click here for the schedule and results
2010 O-LEAGUE – MATCH DAY 4 PREVIEW
AS Manu Ura [TAH] vs. Auckland City FC [NZL]
Friday 12 February 2010
Stade Paea
Papeete, Tahiti
Local kick-off: 19H30
Referee: Rakesh VARMAN [FIJ]
Assistant Referee 1: Philippe REVEL [TAH]
Assistant Referee 2: Paul AHUPU [TAH]
Fourth Official: Norbert HAUATA [TAH]
AS Manu Ura: 1. Jonathan TOROHIA [GK], 2. Henri TAPEA, 4. Jean-Yves LY WA UT, 6. Aldo TAUIHARA, 7. Tetahio AURAA, 8. Vetea TEPA, 9. Jean-Francois KABEU, 10. Auguste WASHETINE, 11. Hiashi KAKE, 12. Hiroana POROIEA, 14. Stephane TUAIRAU, 15. Henri CHANON, 16. Daniel TAPETA [GK], 19. Heitini TUPEA, 20. Billy MATAITAI, 21. Axel TEMATAUA.
Coach: Patrick PITO [TAH]
Auckland City FC: 1. Jacob SPOONLEY [GK], 3. Ian HOGG, 4. Sam CAMPBELL, 5. Matt WILLIAMS, 6. Ki-Hyung LEE, 7. James PRITCHETT, 8. Chad COOMBES, 9. Paul URLOVIC, 11. Daniel KOPRIVCIC, 13. Alex FENERIDIS, 15. Ivan VICELICH, 16. Jason HAYNE, 17. Adam McGEORGE, 18. Paul GOTHARD [GK], 20. Greg UHLMANN, 25. Milos NIKOLIC.
Coach: Paul POSA [NZL]
Hekari United FC [PNG] vs. Tafea FC [VAN]
Saturday 13 February 2010
PMRL Stadium
Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea
Local kick-off: 15H00
Referee: Peter O’LEARY [NZL]
Assistant Referee 1: Hilary ANI [PNG]
Assistant Referee 2: David CHARLES [PNG]
Fourth Official: Job Ponis MINAN [PNG]
Hekari United FC: 2. Gideon OMOKIRIO, 4. Cyril MUTA, 6. Eddie NGAITIN, 7. Benjamin MELA, 9. Tuimasi MANUCA, 10. Abraham ENOCH, 11. Joachim WAROI, 12. David MUTA, 13. Andrew LEPANI, 15. Charles PARANDA, 17. Kema JACK, 19. Koriak UPAIGA, 20. Gure GABINA [GK], 23. Samuel KINI, 25. Stanley WAITA, 26. Alick MAEMAE, 28. Henry FA‘ARODO, 30. Desmod WALUKA
Coach: Jerry ALLEN [SOL]
Tafea FC: 1. Alfred MALAS [GK], 2. Samson OBED, 3. Jacques MAFIL NAWAN, 4. Roger JOE, 5. Silas NAMATAK, 6. Fredy VAVA, 7. Moise POIDE, 9. Jean Nako NAPRAPOL, 10. Richard IWAI, 11. Etienne MERMER, 13. Francois SAKAMA, 15. Jonah TURU, 16. Frazer MAEBULE, 17. Geoffrey GETE, 18. Robert TOM, 19. Michell KALTAK, 22. Shem SIPAI.
Coach: Imdad ALI [FIJ]
Lautoka [FIJ] vs. Marist FC [SOL]
Sunday 14 February 2010
Churchill Park
Lautoka, Fiji
Local kick-off: 15H00
Lautoka: 2. Samuela KAUTOGA, 3.Alvin AVINESH, 4. Samuela VULA, 5. Semesa NAKOSIA, 6. Malakai WAQA, 11. Sailesh SAMY, 13. Apisai SMITH, 14. Elvin PRASAD, 15. Marika ROBANAKADAVU, 16. Jone VONO, 17. Arvindra NAIDU, 18. Niumaia TAGI, 19. Leone VURUKANIA, 20. Osea VAKATALESAU, 22. Aliverti BALELOA [GK], 12. Salesh KUMAR, 28. Parmesh PRASAD [GK], 29. Poasa BAINIVALU
Coach: Imdad ALI [FIJ]
Marist FC: 1. Michael KOUMA [GK], 3. Derol MELO, 4. Emmanuel POILA, 9. Abraham INIGA, 10. Michael MISITANA, 11. Commins MENAPI, 12. Michael SIRA, 13. Lenson BISILI, 15. Joe LUWI, 20. Navusu KITU [GK], Jacob PEKAU, Jerry SAM, George LUI, Francis SAEMALA, Arnold KENI, Phillip MISIBINI, Chrisanto MISIGA, Tutizama TANITO
Coach: Patrick MINITI [SOL]
Waitakere United [NZL] vs. AS Magenta [NCL]
Saturday 20 February 2010
Fred Taylor Park
Waitakere, New Zealand
Local kick-off: 15H00
Squad lists TBC.