The Blues go into this encounter as the only winless team in the league having drawn their first match and lost their subsequent two.

Yet it must be stressed that Wanderers this season, despite being unable to field the same side in consecutive games, have played in some very close, entertaining and skillful matches.

Even more encouraging is the fact that when they do go behind they do not, as they did last year, let their heads drop and allow their opponents to go on and notch up a swag of goals.

Indeed, in their last outing two weeks ago they really took the game to Croatia and despite repeatedly falling behind remained competitive the entire game.

In fact, I feel Wanderers were a little unlucky not to come away from Croatia Park with a deserved point.

The underlying reason for the Blues new found mettle is their midfield - consisting of Dawson, Fewster and David Ratzlaf.

These players turn up regularly, combine together well across the middle of the park, and every week work incredibly hard to help out their defence whilst also getting forward to support the attack.

As a consequence the Blues have scored considerably more goals than they did this time last year and if they continue to play the way they have, they will surely start winning games and pull themselves off the bottom of the ladder.

Westlands ground out their first league win last week but they were far from impressive.

In fact, their much heralded Ferrari midfield has begun to sound more like a Holden Barina, with many key players having very quiet, ineffectual games.

Consequently, if United’s poor form continues, their tag of being this year’s championship favorites will surely be dropped like a very hot potato.

The question is, however, will Wanderers first win of the season come against United?

Or will United make it two wins in a row and get their championship campaign well and truly back on track?

For two main reasons I don’t think that the first of the above two scenarios will eventuate.

Firstly, I really do not see the Blues being able to breach the Red Devils’ defence, which has now only let in six goals in the last six games!

Against Croatia last weekend United’s defence was at its awesome best: Rowan Mitchell pegged back the normally free-scoring Joslyn-Neil and young John Lamb played a blinder in tagging Marik out of the game.

Secondly, whilst Wanderers do look impressive going forward, they have considerable defensive flaws at the back.

Quite simply, they do not have a settled back four and various combinations of players have been a disaster - letting in a whopping seventeen goals in only four games.

If the Blues do not sort out their defensive woes by the weekend, I can see a Red goal avalanche coming.

News from both camps is positive, with each team being able to field almost full-strength sides.

Let the battle commence!

Final verdict: All games where the Blues are concerned are entertaining, and choc-a-bloc full of spectacular goals.

Unfortunately, most of these goals are scored against them.

This weekend should be no different and I expect the Reds to win by a wide margin.