Jordan Hyland will be tasked with shutting down the electric Jona Nareki. Hyland has had himself an impressive Mitre 10 Cup campaign. Photo / Michael Cunningham
Jordan Hyland will be tasked with shutting down the electric Jona Nareki. Hyland has had himself an impressive Mitre 10 Cup campaign. Photo / Michael Cunningham
There's plenty at stake for both Northland and Otago as they both begin their respective storm weeks at Toll Stadium.
The pair sit in the top four in the Mitre 10 Cup Championship with three wins a piece but such is the congestion of the top five, neither side canafford a bad week.
Northland, Otago, Bay of Plenty and Manawatu each have three wins with Bay of Plenty having played one extra game on the other three for a 31-all draw against Northland's next opponents, Counties-Manukau.
The opportunity is there for Northland to get a bit more security in their top four positioning. Their strong start has hit a little bit of a speed bump with consecutive late losses to North Harbour (31-22) and Manawatu (39-25).
Otago meanwhile are coming off a good 34-28 victory over struggling Premiership side Auckland and could also move closer to cementing a playoff spot with a strong week.
With attacking threats in abundance, Northland have picked themselves up from a disastrous two-year period, dusted themselves off and come out in 2017 making a lot of noise in the Championship.
The battle of the left wings Jone Macilai and Jona Nareki is a match-up to savour.
Macilai has been a force to be reckoned with when ball is in hand. His 522m gained is second only to Canterbury's George Bridge, and he is in the top three for defenders beaten and clean breaks.
Nareki has been tearing up opposition defences for Otago, scoring six tries including a hattrick against Manawatu to be second overall on the five-pointer list.
Jona Nareki has been in stellar form on the left wing for Otago during the Mitre 10 Cup. Photo / Getty Images
Macilai and Nareki will be tough defensive propositions for their opposites Latu Vaeno and Jordan Hyland respectively.
It's not only there where the battles will be intense.
Northland first five Peter Breen will line up for his second appearance against his old province, whom he played 44 times for.
He will battle with Fletcher Smith who has shown a deft boot and the ability to pile on points.
Highlanders teammates turn rivals as Dan Pryor and James Lentjes will look to disrupt ruck ball for their opponents in the middle of impressive seasons for the Super Rugby duo.
Northland will need to build a good platform up front to release the likes of Solomon Alaimalo, Rene Ranger, Jack Goodhue and Macilai. Luckily for them the pack has shown more than enough grit and tenacity to get the job done.
The scrum, anchored by Ross Wright, Matt Moulds and Ropate Rinakama, has been a pillar of strength for the Taniwha, while their lineout is constantly improving.
Add to that a deep and talented loose forward core and Northland will have no qualms about their ability to assert themselves.
Northland: Solomon Alaimalo, Jordan Hyland, Rene Ranger, Jack Goodhue, Jone Macilai, Peter Breen, Sam Nock, Matt Matich, Dan Pryor, Murray Douglas, Tim Bond, Josh Goodhue, Ropate Rinakama, Matt Moulds (c), Ross Wright. Reserves: Jordan Olsen, Phil Kite, Chris Apoua, Jack Ram, Kara Pryor, Matty Markwick, Tim Blundell, Tamati Tua.
Otago: Vilimoni Koroi, Latu Vaeno, Josh Timu, Josh Ioane, Jona Nareki, Fletcher Smith, Josh Renton, Sione Teu, James Lentjes, Adam Knight, Josh Dickson, Josh Furno, Donald Brighouse, Sekonaia Pole, Aki Seiuli. Reserves: Sam Anderson-Heather, Craig Millar, Hisa Sasagi, Blair Tweed, Slade McDowall, Jonathan Ruru, Hayden Parker, Leroy van Dam.
