Nines experience: Played in last year's inaugural NRL Auckland Nines title-winning Cowboys side.
What can we expect? Barnstorming runs through the middle and on the fringes of the ruck. Strength, power and offloading ability will see him attract a number of defenders
and his sharp footwork and acceleration should see him win any one-on-one contests.
Daly Cherry-Evans
Club:
Manly Sea Eagles
Position: Halfback and captain
Nines experience: Played in last year's tournament when the Sea Eagles failed to fly, winning just one of three pool games.
What can we expect? Together with his five-eighth partner in crime, Kiwis test star Kieran Foran, Cherry-Evans has the potential to run riot this weekend. He normally occupies the right side of the park but the fluid nature of nines means he could pop up anywhere.
Frank Pritchard
Photo / Getty Images
Club: Canterbury Bulldogs
Position: Back-rower
Nines experience: Making his first start in the short-form of the game after missing last year's tournament.
What can we expect? Frank 'The Tank' knows only one way and that's straight ahead, over and through would-be tacklers. He possesses great skills for a big man and will pose a threat with the ball. He can offload or put players through holes.
Isaac Luke
Team:
South Sydney Rabbitohs
Position: Hooker
Nines experience: None.
What to expect: A typical all-action display. Great playmaker from hooker and recognised as the best dummy-half runner in the sport.
Dave Taylor
Team:
Gold Coast Titans
Position: Prop/second row
Nines experience: Played two games last year before being injured.
What to expect: A 50m run down the wing was one of the indelible memories from last year's competition. The 122kg Taylor will be used to create havoc on the edge of the ruck and also likes a cheeky grubber kick.
Brett Morris
Team:
Canterbury Bulldogs
Position: Winger/centre
Nine experiences: Captained St George Dragons last year.
What to expect: The 28-year-old is one of the fastest men in the game, with an uncanny ability to find a gap. His combination with twin brother Josh will be one to watch.
Chris Sandow
Club:
Parramatta Eels
Position: Halfback and captain
Nines experience: Helped steer the Eels to the top of their pool group last year before they bowed out in the quarter-finals.
What can we expect? The unexpected! The 26-year-old livewire is capable of anything, including chip kicks inside the Eels' own half and running it on the last tackle. Will not shy away from his defensive duties and is capable of putting a big shot on players more than twice his size.
Benji Marshall
Photo / Getty Images
Team: St George Dragons
Position: Halfback/Five-eighth
Nines experience: Missed the inaugural nines (being on rugby duty with the Blues) but was a star of the 2004 World Sevens in Sydney.
What to expect: A little bit of everything. The wide open spaces will suit Marshall's free-wheeling game and he will revel in the crowd support. Apart from the Warriors, Marshall will likely be the most popular player at Eden Park.
Ken Nagas
Team:
Canberra Raiders
Position: Winger
Nines experience: None, but played in the League World Sevens between 1993 and 1997.
What to expect: Hard to know. As trainer for the Raiders Toyota Cup side, Nagas has doubtless stayed fit, although the 41-year-old would have lost a yard of his electric pace. His easy, loping running style is one of the standout memories of the 1990s Green Machine days.
