Big gains needed to crack Mooloo run

It's four years since Otago beat Waikato and it will take a big upset to change that trend at Carisbrook today.

Otago last beat Waikato in 1998 when they won the final 49-20.

This time there is no trophy at stake but third-placed Otago would certainly like something tangible from the match to increase their chances of making the playoffs.

But that will not be easy against Waikato, by far the most impressive team in the NPC first division so far. They have taken maximum points from their five games, scored 28 tries and played the most attractive rugby.

Waikato have the luxury of using Marty Holah, the All Blacks openside flanker, off the bench. Scott Couch starts in the No 7 jersey.

"We're pretty excited where Marty's at right now," Waikato coach Ian Foster said. "I believe he's shown himself to be the form seven in the competition. But we really rate Scott as a loose forward, too."

First five-eighths David Hill gets his first start of the season after injury and Todd Miller, Jono Gibbes and Deacon Manu return to the starting lineup after a rest last weekend.

Midfielder Mark Ranby is back on the bench after injuring his shoulder in the first round.

Fullback Loki Crichton and prop David Briggs were not considered because of injury.

Six of the Waikato backs have been in All Blacks squads. Odd man out is talented new centre Regan King, who has already scored six tries.

Otago co-coach Wayne Graham is under no illusions about the difficulty of the task facing his players.

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"They move the ball around, they involve the 15 players and score a lot of tries - they're a well-balanced team."

Graham said Otago needed to take another step up from their performance against North Harbour where they won 29-23.

"We've been quietly building, we've had our disruptions but we're starting to look more settled now.

"The communication's improving but it's important we step up another notch."

There are some fascinating duels across the park - Byron Kelleher and Rhys Duggan, Taine Randell and Deon Muir, Ryan Nicholas and King and the locking pairs of Simon Maling and Filipo Levi and Royce Willis and Keith Robinson.

But Otago will need to add another dimension to their game to threaten Waikato's winning run. There have been 40 matches between the provinces, Waikato winning 21 and Otago 18 with one draw.

Teams:

Otago: Neil Brew, Aisea Tuilevu, Ryan Nicholas, Seru Rabeni, Seilala Mapusua, Blair Feeney, Byron Kelleher, Taine Randell (capt), Josh Blackie, Kelvin Middleton, Simon Maling, Filipo Levi, Carl Hayman, Jason MacDonald, Carl Hoeft. Res: Silao Vaisola, Joe McDonnell, Peter Bowden, Sam Harding, Danny Lee, Sam Young, Romi Ropati.

Waikato: Todd Miller, Roger Randle, Regan King, Keith Lowen, Bruce Reihana, David Hill, Rhys Duggan, Deon Muir (capt), Scott Couch, Jono Gibbes, Keith Robinson, Royce Willis, Deacon Manu, Greg Smith, Michael Collins. Res: Mark Ranby, Derek Maisey, Duncan Jamieson, Marty Holah, Steven Bates, Tony Philp, Scott Linklater.

Referee: Paddy O'Brien (Southland). Kickoff: 2.35pm.