Race for top four at OFC Pro League

Competition for placings in the Leaders and Challengers groups is expected to make round five of the OFC Pro League an exciting affair when matches kick off in Suva on Saturday.

The top four teams after round five will meet in the Leaders' playoff, while the bottom four go into the Challengers' group.

Current standings has Auckland FC on 23 points, South Melbourne FC on 19, and Bula FC and Solomon Kings FC equal with 15 points each making the top four.

The bottom four ahead of round five are Vanuatu United FC and South Island United with 13 points each, Tahiti United with 10 points and PNG Hekari United with five points.

Day one matches will see Vanuatu United taking on South Island United in the first game in Suva on Saturday afternoon, the winner likely to get into the top four, heading into the second day of round five.

Solomon Kings, who meet Tahiti United in the second match on Saturday night, can consolidate their top four position if they win that encounter, while a Tahiti victory could see them climb up the ladder as well.

Auckland FC will meet South Melbourne FC in the first game of match day two at the 4R Eletrical Govind Park in Ba on Sunday, while local side Bula FC have a date with PNG Hekari FC later that same afternoon.

Oceania Football has picked eight players to watch out for in round five:

1. Scott Wara, Bula FC

the 24 year old defender was the team's hero in Honiara, Wara returns home to Fijian soil as the team prepare to play in front of their home fans for the first time. His overhead kick to defeat South Island United in second half stoppage-time will live long in memory and has ensured Bula arrive in front of their home fans in confident mood.

Born in Lautoka, Wara has previously spent all his playing career outside of Fiji, mainly in England with Stoke City's youth teams, Stalybridge Celtic FC and Stafford Rangers FC, in English non-league football.

He made his senior international debut in 2018 and has only previously played four games on Fijian soil for the national team.

2. Reid Drake, Auckland FC

a key midfielder, the 30 year old Drake has been a core component of the league leaders' squad through the season so far, starting in eight of their ten matches.

He was captain of New Zealand's Northern League champions Western Springs last season and is a former three-time OFC Men's Champions League winner with Auckland City FC in 2016, 2017 and 2022.

His experience and leadership will be a key for Auckland FC as they begin to turn their focus towards the Leaders Group and the following finals series.

3. Raymond Gunemba, PNG Hekari FC

The 40-year-old is the oldest player in the competition and is Papua New Guinea's all-time leading goalscorer and third-highest appearance holder at senior international level.

His leadership skills have been invaluable to the PNG Hekari FC group throughout the campaign, despite their bottom-placing at the moment.

4. Rovu Boyers, South Island United

Solomon Islands international Boyers lit up Round 4 of the OFC Pro League with four goals, including the competition's first hat-trick. The 23 year old midfielder scored a stunning hat-trick in the wet against PNG Hekari FC in round four, before adding another in his side's 3-2 defeat to Bula FC - taking his tally to five goals for the season.

Boyers will likely have to maintain his strong goal-scoring form if they are to finish with a spot in the Leaders Group, after dropping off the top four.

5. Hassan Ramazani, Vanuatu United FC

Ramazani, 25, has made Vanuatu his home since joining from the NPL Queensland league prior to the OFC Pro League season.

The defender has started in all 11 of the Chiefs matches this season.

Ramazani will have to continue his impressive defensive form as the Chiefs go in hunt of a spot in the Leaders Group in Fiji.

6. Junior Fordney, Solomon Kings FC

Fordney previously played his club football in Fiji with Labasa FC for a season, before leaving for Bay Olympic in New Zealand.

He should be familiar with the conditions in Suva and Ba.

He was part of the Solomon Islands team that played against St Kitts & Nevis during the FIFA Series but is yet to score his first OFC Pro League goal from seven starts.

7. Ratu Waranaivalu, Tahiti United

Waranivalu, 31, has become a key member of the Tahiti United outfit.

He returns home to Fiji with his club, having played domestically for Suva FC and Rewa FC.

Waranaivalu has been a key figure for Tahiti United, only missing one game through their campaign so far.

8. Yuki Uchida, South Melbourne FC

With five goals to his name, 25-year-old Japanese forward Yuki Uchida sits among the top goalscorers in the league after four rounds of the competition.

He made the move to down under and has been with South Melbourne FC since September last year, after stints with Maltese Premier League club Sliema Wanderers in 2022.

Uchida will be hoping to help bounce back from in Fiji, after South Melbourne slipped up in Honiara and failed to register a victory from their two games.

Draws for the weekend

Saturday, 11 April

3pm Vanuatu United FC vs South Island United

7pm Tahiti United vs Solomon Kings

HFC Bank Stadium, Suva

Sunday, 12 April

3pm Aucland FC vs South Melbourne FC,

7pm Bula FC vs PNG Hekari United

4R Eletrical Govind Park, Ba

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