Division 1 rugby: Waikite up against desperate Te Teko

Waikite travel to Te Teko today to take on a side who is in a must-win situation in the Baywide Division 1 competition.

While Waikite on 36 points are almost guaranteed a top four finish, tomorrow's opponents Te Teko still have work to do.

Te Teko are in fifth place on 27 points, nine behind Waikite who are second, and are coming off a mid-week loss to Opotiki. Despite the loss, a win today could push them into the top four.

"They will be coming out all guns blazing against us this weekend as they are more or less in a must-win situation and we have just got to try and match that," said Waikite head coach Kevin Lee.

Despite that, Lee now has his eyes firmly focused on the premier 2 competition where the top four division 1 sides form an eight-team division with the bottom four premiership sides.

"We are looking ahead to the next round now. We are hoping to get better and improve as individuals," he said.

"A key focus for us is enthusiasm and ensuring we are coming together as a team on the field and off the field.

"It is all about those individuals looking after themselves in terms of injury preparation and that all folds into the team environment."

Lee sympathised with the Te Teko side.

"We feel sorry for Te Teko, we have been in the same boat having to play mid-week and then again on Saturday. For me as a coach I am just looking for enthusiasm from the boys. We want the boys to go out there excited, wanting to play and front against Te Teko despite already making the top four."

Te Teko head coach Simon Geddes highlighted the importance of this weekend's game.

"It is the business end of the season and set piece, etc, are areas we have to deliver. We have been going really well with our lineouts, but last weekend Kahukura pushed us around a bit in the scum and set the tone for the game. They could disrupt our scrum and challenge us to get the ball going forward.

"Waikite have a pretty big forward pack and containing them will be our main focus and if we can achieve that and get a bit of dominance there then we will have a good chance of winning that."

Elsewhere table toppers Ngongotaha will probably find things a little more tricky at Judea than they did last week at home to Katikati when they won 107-7, but they should still be strong enough to beat the Tauranga side who are eighth in the table.

Fourth-placed Kahukura host Marist St Michael's and will be fighting tooth and nail for the win that would keep them in that all important top four position.

Baywide Division 1: Saturday 2.45pm
Ruatoki v Waimana at Tuhoe Park, Katikati v Papamoa at Moore Park, Kahukura v Marist St Michael's at Kuirau Park, Opotiki v Rangiuru at Princess St Reserve, Te Teko v Waikite at Dunderdale Park, Judea v Ngongotaha at Maharaia Winiata Memorial Park.