Chance for Pikiao youngsters to shine

In a match many predict will be the grand final come August, Pikiao will go head-tohead with Taupo today.

Pikiao Warriors sit top of the table in the Bay of Plenty Rugby League premier competition followed closely by Taupo Phoenix.

Despite the high-pressure clash today, Pikiao coach Doug Unuwai will rest six of his players to give his younger talent a chance to step up.

"I'll be resting half a dozen players . . . a couple of the younger guys will be coming in so I can have a good look at them," Unuwai said.

He said he wanted to make sure he had a squad full of experience come the playoffs, in case some players drop out with injury and he needs to bring in the younger guys.

Unuwai said some people had said to him it was a strange time to give them a go, but he disagreed.

"It's not like they haven't had any game, I have used them here and there and this will give them the opportunity to prove to me they can step up."

The two sides will meet at Taupo's Hickling Park at 2.30pm.

Unuwai said they received a good wake-up call last weekend in a 20-all draw with Pacific (Tokoroa), and he hoped for a good performance from his side today.

"That was an excellent game," he said.

"We scored more or less on the final whistle to bring it back to even. It was a really good wake-up call."

Unuwai said the team were fired up after watching State of Origin on Wednesday night and they had talked about playing like Queensland in defence.

He said they wanted to get up quickly off their line to put pressure on Taupo.

Unuwai said a lot of his players watched rugby league on television and he was trying to get players to study the game as they watched.

In the other premier game, Forestland and Pacific face off in the Tokoroa derby today. Both teams have been in good form recently and should provide some real entertainment when they meet at Memorial Park at 2.30pm.