KEY POINTS:
All eyes may be on Eden Park later tonight for Auckland's perilous Ranfurly Shield defence against Wellington, but round eight of the national championship has also thrown up an intriguing contest as a curtain-raiser.
In the twilight kick-off in Napier, Hawkes Bay's high-flying Magpies will be out to
continue their recent dominance of Waikato in a match that is a repeat of last year's Air New Zealand Cup quarter-final.
That contest was one of the more enthralling encounters at any level of the game last year, with the Magpies storming home to complete a season double over the Mooloo Men.
The huge turnover of players at Waikato means just a handful from last year will feature this evening, but coach Tony Hanks admitted a simmering rivalry was nonetheless building between the unions.
"There is a little bit of history between the sides now," Hanks said.
"Probably for me this game has been earmarked ever since we jumped on the bus [after the quarter-final defeat] last year. I think the players are aware of it but it probably hasn't been a big issue for us because there has been a big change in personnel in our team. I haven't done the numbers but I'd guess there is only three or four guys returning from that 22.
"So we are looking more at the now, treating this game as a one-off.
"We'd have to be [underdogs]," Hanks said. "They are third and we are eighth. And they have only lost two and we have only won two.
"But it is another opportunity for us to test ourselves against a top-four side. If we are going to go further in this competition, we have to prove that we can go to the likes of Napier and put in a good performance."
Waikato have been boosted by the return of promising centre Jackson Willison and wing Henry Speight.
Lock Kevin O'Neil will also play after being cleared of intentionally injuring flanker Serge Lilo in last weekend's defeat by Wellington.
O'Neil was cited for the incident that put Lilo out for the season with a serious knee injury but Hanks said there was no case to answer.
"To be honest, there was no view and I think that was the issue. The footage I saw I wouldn't even say was inconclusive. There was just no evidence of anything happening. It is obviously unfortunate when anyone gets injured and is going to be out for a while but I couldn't see anything to suggest that Kevin had caused the injury."
There will be a change of referee for the game, with Chris Pollock replacing the ill Vinny Munro.
The early kick-off sees Counties Manukau host Manawatu in the battle to avoid the wooden spoon, while tomorrow North Harbour look to keep their slim playoff hopes alive against Northland at North Harbour Stadium.