League: Early clash of Bartercard finals favourites

The Bartercard Cup finals favourites, defending champions Auckland Lions and the new Waitakere Rangers, face off in the match-up of round two.

Unfortunately it is the Monday-night game for Maori TV rather than the curtainraiser for the Warriors-Manly game at Ericsson on Sunday.

Warriors in Bartercard teams this weekend include Misi Taulapapa and Patrick Ah Van with the Lions, Lance Hohaia and Sam Rapira for the Waicoa Bay Stallions against the Central Falcons in Palmerston North, Richard Villasanti for Canterbury Bulls against Wellington and Cooper Vuna, whose Tamaki Leopards meet Counties-Manukau in the Sunday curtainraiser.