Pryor is king of the north

STANDING TALL: Dan Pryor of the Highlanders is the lone Northland rugby player remaining in the 2015 Super Rugby competition. PHOTO/GETTY IMAGES

JUST one Northlander will tackle the feat of Super Rugby playoff footy this season.

Dan Pryor - in his first season with the Highlanders - will don the No7 jersey for the southern franchise in tonight's sudden death clash against the Chiefs in Dunedin.

Having been selected in the starting loose forward trio for tonight's match, Pryor admits his progression at the next level up from ITM Cup has been of value.

However, he says pinpointing his key areas of improvement is not an easy task.

"That's a bloody tough question," Pryor says. "In my first couple of years of ITM I sort of didn't really back myself.

"I think just the confidence thing with me, especially playing Super [Rugby], is such a step up. Knowing that I can play that level and play well builds confidence - when I'm out on the field I really back myself to trust my decisions."

With All Black selectors announcing a 41-man squad tomorrow, Pryor says the match up against Cane, the heir to the All Blacks' No7 throne, will provide another valuable building block in his successful 2015 season.

"It's gonna be a massive game - we've played them twice before so there's no secrets. Each team know each other now, it should be a battle royale.

"It'll be a good old battle, he's [Sam Cane] a pretty mean player."

Despite this, Pryor is aware he has plenty of rugby to trudge through in order to reach the All Black pinnacle many New Zealand players aspire to.

"With injuries [in the Highlanders squad] I've managed to get a few starts but I'm just happy to be in the squad each week.

"Wherever they want to play me, I'm happy so long as I'm on the field."

While the pecking order for openside flankers in New Zealand may be superfluous to All Black selectors' needs, Pryor will bring a wealth of loose forward experience back home to the Taniwha for the 2015 ITM Cup.

With several Taniwha players entering the Super Rugby fray this year - including Jone Macilai (Crusaders), Matt Moulds, Dan Bowden and Jack Ram (Blues), Tom Murday (Reds) and recent Blues signing Sam Nock - Pryor is one of many players to solidify Northland's chances.

Pryor says the Taniwha will be in good stead come August 16 when they open their ITM campaign versus Hawke's Bay.

"I think in general it's just good for the Northland boys to play Super Rugby and [it's] better for our province in general.

"[If] we can all just bring it back to Northland - it's just gonna make us a way better team in the long run."