By Rab Smith / nzfc.co.nz

It will be a play-off pressure cooker when Otago United  and Youngheart Manawatu clash at Carisbrook with both sides desperate for a win that will keep their New Zealand Football Championship seasons alive. 
 
The NZFC had a similarly tight finish last season and this season sees five teams still capable of grabbing the two places still available along with Waitakere and Auckland.
 
In anticipation of a compressed finish, the NZFC has already drawn up guidelines to separate finishers, and possibly the devil could be in the detail.
 
Apart from points, goal fifference, most goals scored, head to head results, even goal differenge in those heads to heads between tied teams could play a part, then lastly disciplinary points accrued and possibly even a tossed coin…..
 
But as he has done all season, Otago coach Malcolm Fleming will try to keep things simple, and get players to concentrate on the Game not marginal theoretical possibilities.
 
High on Fleming’s priorities has been dialogue with Stu Kelly after dropping the former Scots pro and Robbie Deeley immediately before their last match which was a loss to Canterbury.
 
"Stu has apologized to me and the team, and I do not hold grudges. He has been training hard in midweek and so he is back in the mix for the Manawatu match," said Fleming.
 
The news on Deeley is not so positive according to club officials, when Deeley handed in his playing kit earlier this season and is unlikely to play for Otago again in 2009/10.
 
Otago is still smarting over the loss to Canterbury, when the southerners dominated first half possession, and created chances but failed to put them away – and paid the penalty.
 
However all the senior players are hitting top form. Captain Tim Horner is inspirational at the moment, with fellow centreback Tom Sadd not allowing strikers any daylight in the box, and keeper James Waggett in outstanding form.
 
Andy Coburn will soon be an NZFC Centurion, with over 90 games already played, and it shows with his anchoring composure in midfield, where he has good understanding with the influential Kelly.
 
Dave Dugdale leads the blue attack with great mobility and has also struck up a handy partnership with Ben Light and the rangy Nathan Knox.
 
In Ryan Faichnie, Tristan Prattley, Morgan Day and Tom Connor, Otago has young pace and talent that is improving each week.
 
Form may favour Manawatu with eight wins out of 15 for Bob Sova, and four drawn matches, but Otago biggest win this season was that impressive 3-0 win against Youngheart in Palmerston North.
 
Last season Manawatu won 3-2 in Dunedin, but scorer Cory Chettleburgh is suspended and also missing are Vanuatu international striker Seule Soromon, and Daniel Benson.
 
But clearly the likes of Raf de Gregorio, Campbell Banks, Colin Falvey, and Adam Cowan form an impressive backbone to Suva’s side.
 
Otago’s reserve keeper Brian Brown and striker Dan Ede are injured and Deeley is also absent.
 
 Without a doubt this is a make or break match for both sides. A win to Manawatu  which has two matches to play could eventually push Sova’s side above Otago although their play-off chances are a long shot.
 
Fleming said, "We need a win, and we are capable of a win. We are training well, looking sharp and if we match our creative play with hard work off the ball – we can progress further."

The match kicks off this Saturday at 4.00pm.