In a side chock-full of Super Rugby miles, it's the players plucked out of club rugby who will provide the most chat around the water cooler as coaches Kevin Schuler and John Walters signed off on their first Bay of Plenty Steamers squad for the national provincial championship yesterday.
The Steamers' 33-strong ITM Cup squad boast 11 players who've laced up in Super Rugby, with that number including newly-minted All Blacks Brodie Retallick and Sam Cane, with Tanerau Latimer and Lelia Masaga having previously played at the highest level.
But the selection of Baywide club players Jesse Acton (Rotoiti), Lewis Hancock (Tauranga Sports), Keepa Mewett (Tauranga Sports), Mike Kainga (Mt Maunganui) and Simon Rolleston (Te Puke Sports) to bolster the squad is the biggest talking point.
"It's a good mix - a bunch of boys there from Super Rugby who will all be filtering back in the next week or two, and from the local talent on hand we've managed to finish off a group we're pretty satisfied with," Schuler said yesterday.
"There's some young fellas there with good potential and in good form [and] we've spent a lot of time with that group this year, working within a training group and observing them play. We've picked players we trust and who we think are good enough to play at that [ITM Cup] level and have earned the right to be there."
Aussie midfielder Mafileo Kefu arrived in New Zealand yesterday on the back of news All Black wing Hosea Gear had turned down an offer to sign a one-year deal with the Steamers, opting instead for Wellington.
With upcoming preseason games against Hawke's Bay, a Wasps XV and North Harbour in the next three weeks, Schuler was unsure how big a part the returning Super Rugby players would play in the national provincial buildup.
"The ones coming back from Super Rugby will be satisfied with their campaigns and the way they've played and most are in good nick and keen to play. A couple, like Leon [Power] and Red [Culum Retallick], haven't had much rugby in recent weeks and will be champing at the bit."
Former All Black Caleb Ralph had committed to Heartland division rugby with East Coast, telling Schuler the drive wasn't there to play at a higher level, while the Steamers would also be without Cane and Retallick, who were expected to play a big role in the All Blacks' Bledisloe Cup/Rugby Championship campaign.
Injured players Brett Mather, Jason Hona and Toby Arnold had all been included.
First-five Chris Noakes would be back in Tauranga, having signed to play Super Rugby next season with the Blues.
Bay of Plenty Steamers: Jesse Acton (Rotoiti), Lance MacDonald, John Pareanga (Te Puna), Jason Hona (Rangataua), Tanerau Latimer (Rangiuru), Toby Arnold, Carl Axtens, Luke Braid, Phil Burleigh, Sam Cane, Josh Hall, Lewis Hancock, Josh Hohneck, Brett Mather, Keepa Mewett, Tristan Moran, Chris Noakes, Dan Perrin, Leon Power, Brodie Retallick, Culum Retallick, Ben Smith, Pingi Taalapitaga (Tauranga Sports), Mike Kainga, Kenny Lynn, Greg Pleasants Tate, Warren Smith (Mount Maunganui), Mafileo Kefu (Greerton Marist), Lelia Masaga, Nick McCashin, Jamie Nutbrown, Simon Rolleston, Jack Wilson (Te Puke Sports).