Canterbury United face tough doubleheader | Canterbury Sport | Surfing, Rugby, Soccer, Football, Cricket in Canterbury

Canterbury United have the doubleheader from hell over three days that will make or break their national league soccer season.

They play leaders Auckland in Nelson tomorrow and then meet form team Waikato, who have won five in a row, at English Park at 6pm Monday.

Waikato, two points ahead, are the team they have to overhaul to make the play-offs.

"We need to take something out of Saturday, and Monday is basically a six-pointer," said assistant-coach John Brown. "If we let Waikato get five points ahead it will be tough."

However, Brown feels Canterbury are hitting form at the right time after last week's 1-0 win at Manawatu.

"The second half in Wellington was encouraging," he said. "We were a bit low in confidence as a team, but we knew they had the ability and they showed plenty of character.

"And they took that into the Manawatu game, and I thought that was one of the best performances of the year.

"We controlled it for 70-80 per cent and should have won by more."

To get the points they need Canterbury have to be sharper in front of goal (a familiar call this season), but Brown is confident Jamie Smith, Nathan Knox, and Stuart Kelly are getting into the right form to improve the strike rate.

Mike Lilley is in doubt again with tendonitis, and skipper Ben Sigmund may also be sidelined. A match-saving headed interception at the end of the Manawatu game came at the cost of 11 stitches.

While Canterbury know what to expect from Auckland, Waikato ? who have been much stronger away than at home this season ? could be a challenge on Monday.

Declan Edge has few stars in his team, but they've certainly clicked and include both Auckland and (twice) Waitakere among their scalps in the last month. Teams from 24 different communities will compete in the second Christchurch ethnic soccer festival this weekend. Matches at Bexley Reserve this weekend will find the teams for the final at English Park tomorrow week. Somalia won the inaugural tournament last year.

Entertainment at the final will include a halftime penalty shoot-out competition to beat Mainland Soccer CEO and former Black Cap Lee Germon.