A 36-game Magpie, Abbott, 26, said the Hurricanes, who are placed third in the New Zealand conference and sixth on the overall standings, have experienced an "up and down" season to date with eight wins and four losses.
"But we're heading in the right direction. That win against the Highlanders was beneficial in terms of giving us a perception of where we can be."
In sharp contrast, his club team has been the most consistent in the Bay this season with one loss from 11 games. Abbott knows how tight the Pirate-NOBM games have been during the last two seasons with the winning margin in the last three games no bigger than three points.
"They are pretty tough encounters on the field but we all get on pretty well once the game is over. I've got a few mates in the Pirate side and I hear one of them, Aaron McPhee, is going pretty well."
NOBM coach Craig Gowler was thrilled when Abbott contacted him this week with news of his availability. Abbott will lock the host team's scrum with the in-form Tom Bywater.
"It's going to be absolutely awesome for the young boys in our squad to learn off a quality Super player like Mark.
"You're right. It couldn't have been more timely as Pirates will be a big game for us. They play a good style of rugby similar to us ... it's going to be a fantastic match," Gowler said.
He has heard the talk about how well former NOBM openside flanker Pouvi Fatialofa has been playing for the defending champions.
"We all know Three Lungs [Fatialofa's nickname] is one of the fittest guys around. He transferred to Pirates because he heard about our influx of younger loosies and wanted to be a regular starter. I was surprised because he was on 99 games for us."
NOBM will be at full strength apart from Magpies halfback Ellery Wilson who is still out with concussion and loosie Jack Nelson-Murray who has a shoulder injury. This factor combined with the home ground advantage should see NOBM retain the Challenge Shield with a nine-point win.
While Progressive Meats Havelock North will benefit from Riccitelli's services, they will miss Highlanders loosie Gareth Evans who returned to Dunedin for promotional duties this week after a player-of-the-match performance for the villagers last week. The villagers will beat Northfuels Central by at least 20 points at Anderson Park if they reproduce the form displayed in last weekend's win against MAC.
Cridge will give Ansin & Monteith Hastings Rugby and Sports the favourite's tag when they host MAC at Elwood Park in a match they should win by 12 points. K9 Petfoods Clive host Carters Frame and Truss Taradale in the feature match of their club day at Farndon Park. Recent form suggests Taradale could win this encounter by 13. Tech Group of Companies Napier Technical should beat Tamatea side by 13 at Whitmore Park.
