RUGBY: Crowd could make all the difference against Otago

In an evenly matched game tonight between Northland and Otago, the Okara Park crowd could well tip the difference the way of the Taniwha.
Northland are looking for their first victory over Otago since 1990 but if they want to amount to anything in the competition this year, their win-at-home ratio will have to improve on last season.
The team are ready. They come off an encouraging victory against North Harbour and are raring to claim their first scalp against the province that doubles as a Super-14 base.
"We can't wait to run out at Okara Park in front of our fans for the first time this season," skipper Jared Payne said.
Payne has plenty of respect for tonight's visitors and is predicting a physical battle: "Otago really fronted a couple of weeks ago against Harbour but they weren't where they wanted to be against Manawatu, so it's going to be a physical battle and they're going to bring some sting to the game." 
Northland are the best placed they've been for a win in three years - with the last three matches played at Carrisbrook. Northland sit in seventh place on the championship table, with Otago one point behind them in eighth spot. Both sides have been working hard this week to shore up their respective weaknesses.
Northland coach Bryce Woodward said the side were too inaccurate in phase play and defence at Albany, particularly in the first spell.
"They're a very good aerial team so we'll have to be at our best in the lineouts and they've got manic loose forwards in Adam Thompson, Alandon Solakai and Steven Setephano, they've got a good kicking game and pace on the wings - so if we're not on top of our game they've got enough to hurt us," he said.
The coaching staff has also been coming up with ways to get the crowd on their side.
"We've identified and been working on where we want to attack them, both from phase play and from set-pieces and so time will tell whether we can execute and whether we were right."
Both teams  have another factor in common - they will both be backing Canterbury's Ranfurly Shield challenge against Wellington. Otago will be the first cab off the rank  if Canterbury are successful, while Northland will have to count on Canterbury beating Otago and Southland to get a challenge. Woodward has only made two changes to the starting line-up against Harbour.
Halfback Rhyan Caine gets a deserved opportunity for a start, with Luke Hamilton moving to the bench, while Joel McKenty also returns to the starting side. "He proved after he came on that he deserves to be starting and that means it's going to be up to Junior [Gadolo] to provide the impact off the bench," Woodward said.
With  Justin Davies  out for the season, requiring surgery after tearing a pectoral muscle in a pre-season match,  there is some good news to ponder on the injury front.
Hope is fading that skipper Gus Collins will recover in time to join the Taniwha ranks this season but Roy Griffin's return has been eagerly awaited to lend some extra depth in the loose forwards.
Griffin will get some game time in the reserves match against the Auckland Emerging Players XV at Maungakaramea tomorrow, with Aussie lock Pat O'Connor also scheduled for 50 minutes in Northland B's first home match.
North Harbour loan player Michael Farmer comes into the side tonight to replace Daniel Faleafa, who has been recalled by Auckland. "Michael was our original choice as a stand-in lock but he was injured the first time we asked ... hopefully Pat'll be right after this week and we'll have no more injuries," the coach said.
In the backline, the news is less promising, with Troy Woodman and Nick Collins still at least four weeks away from fitness.
The match kicks off at 7.35pm.