Holland said Poverty Bay would not be one-dimensional and they should be able to play with width.
Poverty Bay coach Tom Cairns said they needed a big performance to compete against the champs.
It had been a boost to have the Hurricanes staff in town this week.
Former Gisborne Boys’ High School first 15 skipper Quade Tapsell has been added to the Bay forward pack and Hunter Mokomoko — best known for his sevens play — will start on the right wing.
Mokomoko played for Poverty Bay in 2015 and joined Bay of Plenty’s rugby academy the following year.
He trialled for the New Zealand sevens development team this year.
Tapsell, 20, has been picked at blindside flanker.
He was a standout performer for the New Zealand Secondary Schools team in 2017 and gained a scholarship to study at Waikato University.
After his hat-trick of tries against Hawke’s Bay Saracens in a pre-season match last weekend, Andrew Tauatevalu will again start at centre, and Scott McKinley stays at fullback.
Tane McGuire, who played at first five-eighth against Saracens, will move out to second-five.
Mario Counsell won the starting halfback spot ahead of Willy Grogan, who is on the substitutes bench.
Jody Allen, twin brother of lock Juston Allen — who is in the reserves — has been named at tighthead prop.
Jacob Leaf, a third halfback but who also has utility value, was called in as a late replacement for midfield back John Jones on the bench.
Nine players from Poverty Bay’s starting line-up against Ngati Porou East Coast in the Queen’s Birthday Weekend fixture will start against Thames Valley.
Thames Valley coach Matthew Bartleet said he had been able to retain 17 players from last year’s squad, a lower turnover than usual.
He noted the 33-29 score-line against Saracens — a tight loss for Poverty Bay — so expected his Round 1 opponents to be no pushover.
Bartleet said little had separated Poverty Bay and Thames Valley in recent seasons.
He expected Poverty Bay’s set piece to be solid and said the Bay often had strong, aggressive ball carriers.
Both head coaches were pretty happy with their preparation, saying they had done what they could to be ready for the season.
Thames Valley gave Otago a fright in a Ranfurly Shield challenge in July. They led 13-0 but Otago went on to win 41-21.
Bartleet said the Shield challenge allowed him to get a team together early but there was then a “vacuum effect” before club finals.
“This week has been excellent at training,” he said.
“We’re happy with where we’re at.”
Dan Waenga will referee tomorrow’s match, assisted by Sam Oates and AJ Hartley.
Thames Valley: Jason Laurich, Harry Lafituanai, Sam McCahon, Danny Kayes, Kieran Lee, Reece Boughton, Matty Fisher, Matty Axtens, Fred Kei, Brett Ranga (c), Connor McVerry, Brandon Dromgool, Siti Tupou, Brooklyn Toia, Kieran Ramage.
Reserves: Manawa Hill, Sergio de la Feunte, Sione To’a, Dan Peace, Cole Berridge, Regan Crosland, Mathew Abraham.
Poverty Bay: Scott McKinley, Hunter Mokomoko, Andrew Tauatevalu, Tane McGuire, Korey Love, Kelvin Smith, Mario Counsell, Tamanui Hill, Adrian Wyrill, Quade Tapsell, Gabe Te Kani, Ken Houkamau (c), Jody Allen, Rikki Terekia, Toru Noanoa.
Reserves: Matekaeroa McGuire, Myles Tawa, Juston Allen, Will Bolingford, Willy Grogan, Jacob Leaf, Nathan Rangihuna.
