By Ian Anderson

HAMILTON - Waikato FC coach Willy Gerdsen continues to insist his side ``is a work in progress''.

Saturday's home match against Waitakere City should provide a strong gauge of just how far they've come this season.

After five games it would be fair to label them as this season's surprise package, with two wins and and a draw leaving them in fourth spot ahead of Team Wellington on goal difference.

Now recognised as genuine playoff contenders, Willy Gerdsen's men have the chance to make a big noise against the league leaders at Hamilton's Fred Jones Park.

Gerdsen as usual is treading cautiously though.

"They're not unbeaten for a reason,'' Gerdsen said

"They've scored the most goals and conceded the least. So this really is a big one for us.''

However, Gerdsen doesn't want his side to go into its shell.

"We can't afford to sit back  we will get punished. They have such gamebreakers like Roy Krishna and Luiz del Monte.

It's another step for us, hopefully in the right direction. We're a work in progress but hopefully we will get something out of the game.''

His opposite Neil Emblen expects the encounter to "be a ding-dong battle''.

"Not only do the coaches know all the players well but all the players know each other, they've played in the same teams at times, so it makes some extra spice.''

Included in those is former Waitakere player Jason Hicks, who has excelled at Waikato to the extent that he was named Player of the Month for November.

"That's brilliant for Jason, who's obviously showing the benefits of gettin regular football,'' Emblen said.

The coach said the two most pleasing aspects of his side's perfect start to the ASB Premiership were their defence and away form.

"We haven't been perfect every game but I've been really pleased with the amont of goals conceded and our best performances have been away from home.''

In team news, usual skipper Dan Peat is expected to start on the bench for the hosts as he returns from a hamstring injury while Gerdsen may have to decide whether to again have hugely promising teen Eugene Heerschap on the bench or let him continue his heroics in the club's ASB Youth League semifinal away to Canterbury United after netting a hat-trick against Waitakere United last weekend.

Waitakere have injury concerns over Jason Rowley and Neil Sykes while Ryan de Vries is in South Africa, but they have called up del Monte along with youth stars Tim Payne and Ashton Pett.