By CHRIS RATTUE
Mt Maunganui is ground zero for visiting teams, with the Bay of Plenty unbeaten at Blue Chip Stadium, as it is now known.
For Waikato's Ranfurly Shield challenge the Bay of Plenty will host their largest crowd, since who knows when.
With due respect to Rotorua, sunny Mt Maunganui is
a far cry from the often dank International Stadium that was the team's base until last year.
For the Bay of Plenty the 2003 and 2004 seasons are shaping as the re-birth - an indicator being the union's 1000 new players this season.
As of last night, just 3000 tickets were unsold and a near-capacity crowd should cram the stadium, which holds just over 20,000.
The record is 18,100 - achieved on opening speedway night. The rugby record is the 9000 who watched the Steamers beat Auckland last year.
Yes, the power of the shield. A crowd of 10,000 was expected before Vern Cotter's men prised the log away from Auckland.
There are other ground factors, which could play into Bay of Plenty's hands.
Confidence is one. It has been a happy home patch from the start, with a 100 per cent NPC record against North Harbour, Taranaki and Auckland last year.
New-look Waikato, who were beaten there pre-season in 2003, will be unfamiliar with the nuances. They include the prevailing north-wester, which behaves differently at each end of the field.
Bay of Plenty also discovered an unusual bounce of the ball in their opening season because the clay base around the perimeter makes the ground harder near the sidelines. The surface has been resewn, adding another unknown quantity.
Stadium owner Bob Clarkson wants Super 12 games and is to install lights and covered seating. The long-term aim is to bring second-tier tests to Mt Maunganui.
For now, though, the Steamers will relish their opponents' unfamiliarity with the new rugby venue.
NPC points table
NPC fixtures
