The game under the Central App spotlight this round is the bottom-of-the-table clash between Maniototo and Wakatipu in Ranfurly.

Maniototo coach Nick Love is not overwhelmed by the job at hand against last season's champion Wakatipu side; he says his side is hungry for their first win of the season.

He summed up the Maggots’ three games this season. 

“We played well against Upper Clutha. We were a bit underpowered with the players available that weekend, so we performed reasonably well with a depleted team sheet. We were right in it until the last 10-15 minutes,” Nick said. 

He admits his side played poorly against Cromwell the next outing, followed by a “not too bad” performance on their visit to Alexandra last weekend. 

“We had a shot at winning it there at one stage, but they got away from us in the end. 

“Wakatipu has had a couple of upset losses, so they'll be hungry; we're certainly hungry, so it should be a good game.

“You're working with the players we've got, so basically play to their strengths and play a simple style of footy,” he said.

Nick is lamenting the lack of depth within the squad and the preseason injuries to key players.

“We've got a pretty small squad, so yeah, it's a week-to-week issue; who's going to be available to play?

“We've still got guys out with injuries; we had three good players that would be in our starting 15 missing from all three of our first games in the competition. They all got hurt during the preseason.

“We're down another player this week. So yeah, we're tight enough with our available players.”

The Central App will be in Ranfurly with our camera for the match and will bring you delayed coverage and a full round-up of the other games on Monday.

The Central App is proud to bring you coverage of Central Otago’s premier rugby competition.