By Matt Richens / nzfc.co.nz

Waikato FC have picked up six points from their last two New Zealand Football Championship matches, Auckland City have just four.

But that's about the only statistic that favours the hosts in Sunday's week 13 clash at Ngaruawahia's Centennial Park.

But Auckland City are unlikely to face the easy beats they met in round one in Auckland when they made Waikato FC look like school kids at Kiwitea Street and waltzed away with a 5-0 win.

A clever signing in the transfer window saw Waikato FC pick up Jeff Campbell who's unbeaten in a Waikato shirt and the former All White's inclusion has inserted not only stability to the midfield, but a confidence in the squad that was sadly missing when Waikato lost seven games on the bounce.

Campbell last week said from his time with Auckland City, he knew the club thought of Waikato as their bogey team.

That was from early NZFC exchanges, not of late where the darling of the FIFA Club World Cup have won their last seven matches against Waikato.

Not that that's made any difference to Auckland City coach Paul Posa.

"It's something we've discussed, to not let complacency slip into our game, we can't afford to,'' he said.

"Teams love to step up against us and no doubt they'd love to knock us off.''

He said apart from the City of Sails derby, the Waikato game was their next biggest.

"We've always had a couple of Waikato players and they've got a couple of Auckland players. There's always a bit more on it,'' he said.

On that note, Waikato's Chad Coombes will play his 95th NZFC game this weekend.

Despite battling away in seventh place, Waikato are now on a two game winning streak and have a history of handing an unbeaten team their first loss of the season.

Last year Waikato beat Waitakere 2-1 at Ngaruawahia to end their more than a year unbeaten run.

Auckland City are in a similar position... Maybe Waikato can do it again?

"Yes, we're aware of that, we're very aware of it,'' Posa said.

And that's another reason Auckland City will not be taking any chances by taking Waikato lightly.

The competition within the Auckland City squad for places would also help stop complacency and with Keryn Jordan (knee) and Daniel Koprivcic (concussion) unavailable this week, others will need to step up.

Waikato welcome back captain Shaun van Rooyen from suspension, but with Campbell and Joey Simpkins laying a solid platform in the midfield in last week's 3-2 win over YoungHeart Manawatu, van Rooyen may be forced into another position, possibly right back where player coach Che bunce has talked up his worth all year.

A win for the home side may be unlikely again  Waikato were $6 outsiders last week  but if they can upset the defending champions, they would be on 12 points and knocking on the door of the top four and the playoffs.