Dour fight on cards in Bullring

Two sides with contrasting starts in this year's NPC first division - Taranaki, with their backs to the wall, and Auckland, unbeaten after two games - square off in the Bullring in New Plymouth tonight.

Taranaki languish at the bottom of the points table and Auckland sit comfortably at the top, but a real scrap can still be expected.

With unfavourable weather conditions expected, it could turn into a dour forward battle as the two sides slug it out.

Wet-weather rugby is nothing new for Auckland this year. Their two NPC matches have been played in the rain and they have done enough to take the points.

They beat Southland at Eden Park 29-7, then got past Bay of Plenty in a grim struggle, 10-6, in Rotorua.

"Things just get tougher and tougher for us the way the draw is," Auckland coach Wayne Pivac said.

"Taranaki have painted themselves into a corner and they'll be very tough. Nothing's changed - Taranaki sides are always strong up front."

Pivac said he was reasonably happy with his side's improvement this year, but said they would have to improve to another level, especially at second phase, against Taranaki.

Taranaki coach Colin Cooper admitted his team faced a significant hurdle to get off the mark tonight.

"Auckland are a side who always look threatening and, if they get space, can be very dangerous," he said.

"It will be a huge challenge to get up and have a crack at them."

Cooper said Auckland were full of star players and All Blacks.

"We need to contain their stars and that will take a big effort. We need to step up another level. Last year, they were very focused and showed what they are capable of."

Auckland hammered Taranaki up front last year and went on to win 42-14.

There are some interesting match-ups tonight - former All Black Eroni Clarke at centre for Auckland against the talented Bryce Robins, the exciting Mils Muliana against seasoned Taranaki fullback Daryl Lilley and Carlos Spencer at first five-eighths against Taranaki's Mark Urwin.

One of the finds of the Super 12, the Highlanders' No 8 Samiu Vahafolau, will be a handful off the back of the Auckland scrum, meaning Campbell Feather will need to be at his best, and Taranaki openside flanker Brent Thompson will have his hands full shutting Auckland's Justin Collins down.

Auckland also have a proven cornerstone of the scrum in French prop Christian Califano, who will pack down against Jason Hooper, in the Taranaki side after injury sidelined Tony Penn.

- NZPA