Tavano back for Navy Blues
Fabrizio Tavano could be set for a return from injury as the Navy Blues focus on Canterbury United Dragons televised clash at Kiwitea Street on Sunday.
Tavano was last seen in pre-season friendly clashes with Canterbury United and Waitakere United and his return strengthens an already strong looking squad.
The Navy Blues washed Waitakere United away in a five goal show at Trusts Arena last week and coach Ramon Tribulietx was pleased his team turned a corner in the Super City derby.
"It was a good win after a couple of games where we deserved a lot more than what the result told, it was good to get the 3 points.
"It was not an easy game for us and Waitakere pressed us well in the first 30 minutes but when they lost two players to red cards it was a different story," he said.
Canterbury United had a big setback after losing 1-0 at home to Tasman United, a result that is sure to give Sunday's game in front of the Sky Sport cameras an extra edge.
But lingering in the background is Canterbury's impressive 3-1 pre-season win over the Navy Blues at Auckland Grammar in September.
"Canterbury is a good side, very intense and a difficult team to face. I'm sure the game will be difficult for a lot of reasons, we haven't played at Kiwitea Street for a long time.
"We know the complexities of this fixture but the (pre-season) encounter with Canterbury United is in the past now and we need to keep going and getting stronger.
"Pre-season games are always a bit different, but it is good to have that recent experience in our mind coming into this weekend.
"We understand the situations that Canterbury set up for us in the friendly match, the one on one defensive marking made the game an uncomfortable one for us to play and we need to make sure we understand how to move and position ourselves against that kind of team," Tribulietx said.
On the injury front Kris Bright and Mario Bilen remain out of action with the latter still several weeks away from availability.
Solomon Islands international Micah Lea'alafa is still awaiting confirmation of his visa.
The game kicks off on Sunday 5 November at 4.35pm NZST.
The match will be broadcast live on Sky Sport.
Ends
Match Details
ISPS Handa Premiership Round 3
Sunday 5 November 2017
Auckland City FC v Canterbury United
Kiwitea Street, Sandringham
Kick-off: 4.35pm NZST
#ACvCU
#ISPSHandaPrem
#WhereAllWhitesAreMade
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Player Profiles
Table
| Position | P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  | AC | 7 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 22 | 7 | 18 |
| 2 |  | WS | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 6 | 18 |
| 3 |  | BU | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 12 | 6 | 13 |
| 4 |  | ES | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 12 | 7 | 12 |
| 5 |  | BO | 7 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 13 | 12 | 12 |
| 6 |  | MN | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 17 | 11 | 10 |
| 7 |  | AU | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 9 | 7 | 9 |
| 8 |  | TC | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 12 | 19 | 6 |
| 9 |  | MU | 6 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 8 | 25 | 3 |
| 10 |  | WR | 6 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 8 | 16 | 2 |
| 11 |  | EB | 6 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 12 | 2 |
| 12 |  | HW | 6 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 9 | 18 | 2 |
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