The result will be the true test on where the Nix really are at.
I think anyone can see that right now the Nix ain't ready to start the A League season with much of a bang. A tonne of work to do, in the next 2 months. But that is probably true of a few ALM teams.
WSW got spanked 3-0 by the Bergers (so only 1 goal better than the Nix), plus the Phoenix beat the Roar (end of last season yes) and the Glory enroute to the quarters. The Nix ain't Robinson Crusoe, right now.
Auckland are virtually unchanged from last season. They have only had to navigate bringing in Brook and Cosgrove, otherwise the cogs have just continued turning. Corica is gonna play the same 4-4-2 he basically has for years. They said early on they were targeting winning the Australia Cup. They ain't blooding youngsters from an Academy. Though I see Vicelich jnr is getting some mins. It's just a very different operation to how the Nix are 2 mths before the ALM kicks off. Just is
Edit - Oh and A FC continue to be bit jammy. Talay was filthy Hall's hand ball in the box wasn't picked up by the officials, and rightly so.