By Andrew Bailey / nzfc.co.nz

A cautious YoungHeart Manawatu face off against a Waikato FC lifted by last week's surprise 1-0 win over Canterbury United.

Manawatu’s early season form has deserted them and they have been slipping steadily down the table in recent weeks.

Last week’s 95th minute loss to Waitakere will have only rubbed salt into the wounds – a game in which, by all accounts, Manawatu played well.

Waikato also find themselves in a distinctly troubling situation. After nine rounds they prop up the table with just two wins to their name.

One of those, however, was last week against a Canterbury United side fresh from dispatching Waitakere, and that win will perhaps have provided just a glimmer of playoff hope for the boys from the Waikato. 

Despite their midseason form slump, Manawatu’s own playoff aspirations are far from over.

A glance at the table shows they lie just three points off third place Otago, and with a game in hand.

A slip up here, however, could severely dent their chances.

Manawatu will look forward to Sunday’s match as a chance to put last week’s extra time loss behind them and return to winning ways.

Waikato, however, will come down to Palmerston North with perhaps a little more confidence than they would have a week ago.

A 1-0 victory over Canterbury United last weekend saw them arrest a run of four straight defeats, and former Kingz and All Whites midfielder Jeff Campbell has joined the side and will provide real quality in the middle of the park.

 Suspension for skipper Sean van Rooyen means Waikato will lose his engine and attacking spark in the midfield, and he will also miss the chance to return against the club he played for in the 2006-07 campaign.

Team news for Manawatu is similarly mixed.

Centre-back Colin Falvey will make a welcome return from suspension after he was sent off two weeks ago against Team Wellington, but right back Scott Robson is missing from the squad with injury. 

For Waikato FC, each match is now do or die. Coach Che Bunce is under no illusions about the difficulties Sunday’s fixture will pose.

“After such a close loss against Waikatere last week YoungHeart Manawatu are going to be eager to bounce back and will be an even tougher proposition at home," Bunce said.

Make no mistake, Waikato will come south with hope and a real belief.

 Manawatu have now dropped three games straight – albeit the last two against title front-runners Waitakere and Wellington – and continue to struggle to score goals at home.

While Manawatu aren’t quite in a must-win situation just yet, they will be keen to avoid that predicament in the coming weeks.

Manawatu coach Bob Sova will know that means winning on Sunday.

Waikato boss Che Bunce, on the other hand, will get the chance to see whether last week’s victory was the beginning of a turnaround or a false dawn.

Last week produced a goal each for Manawatu’s two strikers – Banks and Soromon – in a losing effort against Waikatere. Manawatu and the home fans will be hoping for more this week – this time for a winning side.