Football: Will it be turf luck today? | Hawkes Bay Sport | Surfing, Rugby, Soccer, Football, Cricket in Hawkes Bay

On the surface, it comes across as just another game of footy in the ASB Premiership today in Christchurch.

But is it, really?

It couldn't be far from it, actually.

Yes, at face value it is book favourites Kinetic Electrical Hawke's Bay United versus Canterbury United in Christchurch with the hosts having a point to prove after succumbing 3-0 in Napier in round three not long before Christmas.

But well before referee Jamie Cross rattles the pea at 3pm on the ASB Football Park, the ground will have been subjected to intense scrutiny akin to a drop-in cricket wicket.

Scratch the artificial surface and Bay coach Chris Greatholder will have you believe the turf gives the Cantabrians a significant home advantage.

Bay captain Bill Robertson, a former Canterbury player, will attest to that.

The Englishman has played on artificial surfaces in the United Kingdom and the United States before, although he isn't familiar with the Christchurch one.

"Some of our lads have never played on the artificial turf so it's going to be a new experience for them," he says.

The ASB Football Park, billed as having state-of-the-art turf, cost $1.6million to build on what was formerly known as English Park.

The all-weather ground is a joint venture between the city council, global soccer body Fifa, New Zealand Football and the code's district, Mainland Football.

Opened officially in October, the synthetic grass surface is only the second of its kind in New Zealand. It follows on the success of one laid down at the North Harbour Stadium in Auckland.

Robertson reckons it'll take his troops some getting used to.

"It doesn't play as true as grass so the bounce of the ball on it and the pace are different," he explains, adding they'll have half an hour to suss it out before kick-off.

Candid Canterbury coach Keith Braithwaite says they haven't received any negative feedback on the playing surface yet.

"That's why you warm up for 40 minutes on it before kick-off," Braithwaite says, dispelling any myths they are using the ground for several training nights each week.

He says they train one night a week because other clubs and codes book the venue.

"The good thing about it is that you can't have any excuses for not passing the ball around because the ball bounces properly on it and there are no bumps and uneven patches," says Braithwaite, who is partial to the passing and moving type of game but also open to getting the ball from one end of the park as quickly as possible if the opportunity arises.

Ground aside, the teams are primarily at the crossroads of their season in a must-win scenario.

The winners will be, Braithwaite reckons, into the play-off path but the losers will be left chasing shadows.

Fifth-placed Bay are coming out of a slumber this summer, adding Waitakere United and YoungHeart Manawatu to Canterbury as their prey.

With some instability after Matt Chandler headed off to Australia three rounds into the season, squad member Greatholder took over the reins after the franchise board approached him.

While the Bay sit eight points adrift from the Canterbury Dragons on 18 on the third rung with Waitakere on an inferior goal difference, they have two more games in hand.

On Waitangi Day, Monday, they will host leaders Auckland City, on 20 points, at Park Island, Napier, in a double header.

Whether they will shake off the flea collar as they did against a youthful Waitakere remains to be seen.

For Robertson, the immediate hurdle is the Dragons after gaining some momentum from the 5-0 drubbing of whipping boys YoungHeart last Sunday in Palmerston North.

Canterbury have thumped Manawatu 9-1 against a team that best passes off as a pre-season hit out. History favours the Bay who last lost in Christchurch in 2007-08, but Robertson isn't a "big follower" of statistical snippets because teams evolve in games, let alone between seasons.

"We are under no illusions that Canterbury are an in-form side," he says, although taking comfort in the knowledge that the Dragons are beatable after slaying the round-three favourites here in November.

"They realise we're capable of beating them so that'll make it tougher for us."

Echoing the sentiments of Greatholder, the captain says taking a clean sheet on defence is a confidence booster for a team who have scored 13 goals and conceded just as many.

He is the only genuine defender in a defensive line of former strikers and engine-room specialists with goalkeeper Shaun Peta keeping veteran Richard Gillespie on the bench following a return from a niggly injury.

Nevertheless, Danny Wilson, Fergus Neill and Josh Margetts have done remarkably well, although the next two games will be a far cry from Memorial Park's firepower.

Englishmen Conor Tinnion, a centre-mid, and defensive midfielder Stephen Hindmarch have found traction with last week's hat-trick hero, Tom Biss, to provide the impetus to feed Sam Margetts and Stu Wilson.

Greatholder will be mindful his individuals will have to find cohesiveness if they are to come away with points this long weekend.

Match facts

* WHO: Canterbury United v Hawke's Bay United.

* WHERE: ASB Football Park, Christchurch.

* WHEN: Today, 3pm kick-off.

* Referee: Jamie Cross.

* Head to head: Played 19, Canterbury 10 wins, Hawke's Bay 7 wins, 2 draws.

* Previous result: Hawke's Bay United 3, Canterbury United 0 _ rd 3.

* CANTERBURY UTD form: LWLWW.

The players: Andy Barton (groin strain) and Dan Terris (Achilles) are missing due to injury, while Cole Peverley returns to action after serving suspension. Erik Panzer and Joe Murray drop out of the squad.

The vital statistics: Canterbury United haven't beaten Hawke's Bay United at home since 2007-08 when goals by Rhodri Payne and Ryan Faichnie guided the Dragons to a 2-1 victory. Adam Highfield will make his 55th ASB Premiership career appearance, if selected.

Squad list: 1-Tom Batty (GK), 3-Mark Johnston, 4- Nick Wortelboer, 5-Tom Schwarz, 6- Geoff MacIntyre, 7- Darren White, 8- Aaron Clapham, 9- George Slefendorfas, 10-Russell Kamo, 13- Daniel Glozier, 14- Josh Smith, 15- Julyan Collett, 17- Cole Peverley, 20- Ken Yamamoto, 22-Adam Highfield (GK), 23- Te Atawhai Hudson-Wihongi.

Coach: Keith Braithwaite.

* HAWKE'S BAY UTD form: WLLWW.

The players: Leon Birnie replaces the suspended Dale Higham in the match-day squad. Matt Gould (shoulder) and Rudi Bauerfiend (broken arm) remain on the injury list. It's a tough double-header and Bay name an enlarged squad with two matches in three days that could define the Bay's ASB Premiership season.

The vital statistics: Hawke's Bay United have won two, drawn one and lost one of their previous four visits to Christchurch, including a 4-0 thumping of Canterbury in 2009. Birnie is set to make his 66th premiership career appearance. He has scored 29 goals.

Squad list : 1- Richard Gillespie (GK), 2- Fergus Neil, 3- Alex Barlow, 4- Stu Wilson, 5- Bill Robertson (c), 6- Stephen Hindmarch, 7- Matt Hastings, 8- Adam Cowan, 10- Sam Margetts, 11- Conor Tinnion, 14- Danny Wilson, 16- Reilley O'Meagher, 17- Tom Biss, 18- Hamish Watson, 21- Josh Margetts, 22- Jerome Groot, 26- Shaun Peta (GK).

Coach: Chris Greatholder.NZ Football