Two Auckland clubs face daunting away trips in the semi finals of the 83rd Chatham Cup with 2008 champions East Coast Bays facing three time winners Miramar Rangers in Wellington, and Bay Olympic trekking to Dunedin to take on Caversham on the weekend of August 14 and 15.

The draw, made live on Radio Sport on Tuesday, also opened the possibility of a Chatham Cup final hosted in Wellington or Dunedin.

New Zealand Football confirmed that if the winter football showpiece, played on the first weekend in September, featured no Auckland team the game would be played at the ground of one of the finalists rather than North Harbour Stadium, the host of nine of the last 11 finals. 

Bay Olympic coach Shane Knowles acknowledged a Caversham side in hot Cup form and within striking distance of a Football South Premier League title would be a big challenge for his team but that the chance of making a Chatham Cup final is ample motivation.

 “They’ll be pretty tough down there there’s no doubt about it, but you’ve got to beat the top teams to win the cup,” Knowles said.

“The Chatham Cup is special, and it’s a high priority for us. All the players look forward to it and from a winter football point of view there’s nothing bigger than winning the Chatham Cup.”

Chatham Cup Semi-finals, August 14/15
Kickoff 2pm, dates to be confirmed.

Caversham v Bay Olympic, Tonga Park 
Miramar Rangers v East Coast Bays, David Farrington Park