At long last the Midsummer break is over, and supporters and players alike are eager to get back into action. Tonight’s match against Hervanta Sporting Team (HST) is another chance to make the teams chasing us feel desperate. However, despite what a look into the table might make you think, this match wont be an easy one.

Firstly, HST is a team that has been playing in Vitonen for years, and know how to win matches at this level. Indeed, in the past two seasons they finished third and fourth. Their 2013 season has not taken a very good start as they lie just below the relegation threshold in the table. However, their only win is against ViiPV and additionally they have four ties. They are a team that could beat anybody, and they have done so many times over the years.

Secondly, our injury situation has not improved over the break, and our defensive line will have a huge number of absences. Antti Eijamo, Alaa Adeeb, and Ahmed Lakra are all confirmed to be out, and even Juha Kumara is rumored to have some kind of a minor problem that keeps him out of this match so that he can play on Sunday in our next match. This leaves just three regulars available for the four man line: Timo Kauppinen, Otto Pitkänen and Osku Airesto. This would seem to leave one full back position open for somebody new. Who will we see?

With this in mind it might have seemed strange that center back Mika Oksanen was let go to LapRo, a team in the other Vitonen division. However, he would not have been available for either of this weekend’s matches. At the same time two additions were made into the first team as Heikki Wilen and Otto Kurjanen were brought in from the second team. However, I do not expect them to get any minutes tonight, unless there is no other choice.

Above the defensive line the lineup is probably going to be a very strong one tonight. The only question mark is the absence of the midfield anchor Joonas Kupiainen (work related reasons). How much will that have an effect on our play? Will his absence change our formation or tactics? I’m not overly worried because the team has enough quality even without him, but this is for sure our biggest question mark. And even with Ilkka Innola out tonight and Kalle Heltonen replacing him in goal, I do not have any real worries about the defense either. If we play at our own level, the result will be a good one.

Match kicks off at Kaukajärvi at 8 pm in what looks to become a gorgeous summer night. Be there!