By Bob Pearce/nzfc.co.nz

AUCKLAND - Waitakere United will be hoping there is truth in the old adage that a poor rehearsal leads to a triumphant opening when they take on Team Wellington at Fred Taylor Park on Saturday.

The West Aucklanders received a wake-up call on Wednesday when what had been predicted to be an O-League canter against Tahiti's AS Manu Ura turned into a come-from-behind 2-1 escape from embarrassment.

New coach Chris Milicich was not impressed: "We were incredibly flat and not into it. But we won. There is huge room for improvement."

Nobody should doubt Waitakere's ability to get their act together. They topped last year's New Zealand Football Championship table and lost only narrowly to Auckland City in the grand final after having a player sent off.

That player, Commins Menapi, will be missing on Saturday through suspension though he would have been a doubtful starter anyway because of a hamstring injury that saw him sidelined early from Wednesday's game. Also missing will be Neil Sykes through a family bereavement and former Knights utility Neil Emblem who has been ruled out with an ankle injury.

Emblem, who scored the winner against AS Manu Ura, has been replaced by former Auckland City midfielder Paul Seaman.

Milicich has named a squad of 16 but will require fitness tests on Matt Cunneen and Jake Butler who also picked up injuries in Wednesday's encounter.

He has a clear message for his team: "Stick to the game plan. If you want to do your own thing, then go somewhere else."

There is no lack of talent and experience in the Waitakere lineup. Benjamin Totori is a proven goalscorer, a convincing winner of the NZFC Golden Boot with 24 goals for YoungHeart Manawatu last season. Emblen's dominance in the air should provide the striker with plenty of chances to add to that tally.

Emblen, former All White skipper Danny Hay and fellow NZ Knights refugee Darren Bazeley offer years of experience, which will be needed if Waitakere are to retain their form in up to 33 matches in three competitions, the NZFC championship, the O-League and the FIFA Club World Cup.

New Wellington coach Stu Jacobs was an interested spectator at Wednesday's game as he seeks to end a losing streak against the Aucklanders. Waitakere won both encounters last season.

Jacobs has lost goalkeeper James Bannatyne to a finger injury with Dylan Hall coming in as replacement. Former All Whites midfielder Raf De Gregorio was also scratched on Friday night after injurying his hip in training the previous night.

But All Whites midfielder Andy Barron is back from Canterbury as captain and there should be plenty of goals to come from Graham Little. New signings Daniel Ellensohn and Sean Douglas will be back in familiar territory this weekend.

"I would have liked several more games before meeting Waitakere," said Jacobs.

“But they set the benchmark last year and that is what we would like to follow. The game on Saturday will determine our standing for the start of the season."

Fred Taylor Park, which will be home to Waitakere while Douglas Field undergoes a makeover and the construction of a showpiece stand, will provide a good playing surface and the club hopes to have a 500-seat stand in place by Saturday.