By Rab Smith / asbpremiership.co.nz 

Another watershed moment arrives for Otago United as it prepares to face the old rival Canterbury, at 2 pm on Sunday at the Forsyth Barr Stadium.

The shallow Otago playing squad is set to shrink further as star midfielder Mike Cunningham and versatile defender Tom Connor prepare to head for Melbourne in the New Year.

Both will be keen to make a lasting impression in their last ASB Premiership match, but their intended exit will be hard for caretaker coach Andy Duncan to accommodate, as well as regular coach Richard Murray on his return from a youth tournament in Singapore.

“Both players have contributed greatly to our bright opening to the season and I hope Sunday’s result serves as a fitting send off to those outstanding players,” Duncan said.

“Both are heading to Melbourne to play and although it is sad to see them leave, they do so with our best wishes as their ambitions met with the franchise’s main objective – Southern based players operating at the highest level.

“It is the reason that both Richard and I took on the role of coaching, to make sure local players have a stage on which to excel.”

So exit stage right, one talented pair, and in the wings does Otago have quality replacements to take over those important positions?

Several players have raised their game so far this season. Central defender Matt Joy won last week’s Man of the Match award, and the likes of Harley Rodeka, Morgan Day, Regan Coldicott, Sam Mepham, James Govan, Matt Brook and Joel Stevens are all capable of making the step up.

But Cunningham and Connor will be on deck on Sunday, and relish the chance to overtake Keith Braithwaite’s Canterbury which is presently two points ahead after four matches.

Recently returned from Olympic squad trials are defender Tristan Prattley plus creative midfielder Darren Overton, and clearly they are both important players for Otago.

Young striker And Hancock is due a slice of luck to complement his hard running and tackling game. He could be partnered at some stage by Canadian Donny McGregor who has had a frustrating wait for match play due to recurring hamstring problems.

Historically, both teams have won four games each in the last eight matches, with no draws. Both teams have also inflicted five goal defeats in recent years, so there are likely to be no holds barred on Sunday.

For Canterbury, Dan Terris makes his long awaited ASB Premiership return from injury after appearing as a sub in last week’s White Ribbon Cup loss.

Adam Highfield is back in goal after missing the cup fixture and Joe Murray is also back after a fortnight’s break.
 
Sam Miles, Russell Kamo and  Murray were all on target for Canterbury as they romped home to a 3-1 win over Otago the last time these two sides met.