Jason Hona has the backing of his coaches tonight as he bids to ensure All Blacks discard Luke McAlister's return to ITM Cup rugby is a quiet one.
The converted wing has been thrust into second-five to mark the 30-test All Black veteran in the Bay of Plenty Steamers' opening home
against North Harbour at Mt Maunganui's Baypark Stadium.
Apart from half-a-game in the pre-season win over Manawatu, all of Hona's previous 37 games for the Steamers have been on the left wing.
But a move to midfield at some stage this season was signalled earlier in the year by Steamers head coach Sean Horan, who said yesterday the timing of Hona's shift to second-five the same week Aussie import Steve Kefu was nursing a knock to his right knee was purely coincidental. Kefu sat out training on Tuesday, his knee heavily bandaged, but was apparently fit for selection tonight.
"Steve was available but we were thinking about the length of the season and always had these sorts of plans in place," Horan said.
Hona has the physical attributes to succeed and a big game would likely see his shuffle inwards become more permanent.
Hona will mark up against McAlister, who missed the first two games of the season after he failed to show at training for North Harbour, before seeking an early release from his NZRU contract so he could play in France. Tickets for children under 15 are priced at $5, not the $15 indicated in yesterday's paper.
