By Ian Anderson / asbpremiership.co.nz 

HAMILTON - Waikato FC will look to new signing and former New Zealand U-20 international defender, Phil Edginton, to tighten their defence when they take on third place Team Wellington on Saturday.

Waikato FC start the penultimate home match of their ASB Premiership regular season knowing three points is essential to stay in the playoff reckoning.

The hosts will face Team Wellington at Hamilton's Fred Jones Park on Saturday (12.30pm kickoff) hoping to reverse a form slump that began shortly before Christmas.

Coach Willy Gerdsen may look to new signing Phil Edginton to stiffen a defence that has leaked too many goals in recent encounters.

Edginton left title contenders Auckland City to head down the Bombays and hopefully for the Waikato faithful plug some holes in the back four after they conceded five against Edginton's old side last weekend, two at home to Otago United earlier this month and five away to Youngheart Manawatu in December.

Not helping their cause on Saturday will be the absence of the suspended Nick Branch. Gerdsen has a choice between Edginton, Ryan Zoghby and the experienced Nathan Strom as centre backs against the third-placed visitors, with the only other enforced absence from their sixth-placed squad being suspended midfielder Mark Jones.
   
However, Team Wellington also have some problems despite being neatly placed to make the post-season.

Wiremu Patrick and George Barbarouses are suspended, Karl Whalen and Jamie Duncan are still in holiday mode while Darren Cheriton is also on the unavailable list for coach Stu Jacobs.
 
So the visitors may bring Justin Gulley, Waikato youth product Jessie Smith and Peter Halstead with them while Tyler Lissette  another Melville United teen who joined the capital's team  is battling to overcome a hip injury on his planned return home.

Waikato striker Milos Nikolic will be seeking a goal to push him to the top of the Golden Boot race  he shares top spot with Waitakere United's Allan Pearce on seven  while Wellington's Hiham Kamri, who netted twice when his side won the clash between the two sides in Wellington earlier this season, is a goal back on six along with Hawke's Bay United's Andy Bevin.

Saturday's visitors certainly have the upper hand over the hosts  in their 17 encounters, Waikato have won just three with three draws.