Unbeaten Nelson Bays and Hawkes Bay have a royal chance to overtake leaders Manawatu in the fourth round of the NPC second-division competition tomorrow.
Nelson Bays, 49-10 winners over Mid-Canterbury last weekend, face neighbours Marlborough in Blenheim and Hawkes Bay travel to Ashburton to play Mid-Canterbury.
Manawatu lead with 12 points, two
ahead of Hawkes Bay, but have the bye this weekend. Nelson are a point back in third.
Hawkes Bay coach Mark Shaw is taking nothing for granted, although Mid-Canterbury are missing fullback and first-choice goalkicker John Ellis through injury.
"They beat the side [Marlborough] we struggled against two weeks ago, and in Ashburton they'll be difficult," Shaw said.
His Mid-Canterbury counterpart, Nigel Marshall, said the side were looking forward to playing at home after two away matches and was confident his players would be motivated to put things right.
First five-eighths Tupe Fanolua, the top-scorer in Auckland club rugby this season, takes over the goalkicking from Ellis, while promising flanker James Lancaster is primed to make his debut.
Despite registering their first win last weekend, Marlborough coach Kieran Keane was not happy with his team's first-half effort, although the players "flipped a switch and really got into it" after the break.
Nelson Bays veteran first five-eighths Warren Johnston is closing in on Greg Cooper as the fifth-highest points scorer in first-class rugby.
He has scored 2171 - 50 behind Cooper.
Fourth-placed East Coast are chasing their third win since promotion, against Thames Valley in Paeroa.
They beat winless King Country 28-23 last weekend,. Their manager, Val Morrison, believes the loyal band of travelling supporters were worth 20 points a game.
East Coast have the best attacking record in the division, but also the shoddiest defence statistics, so tightening up the tackling is an obvious priority.
Thames Valley are coming off a heavy 3-27 loss to Manawatu and will have to contend without centre Dion Lawson, who could be out for a month with a knee injury.
Fullback Dean Moloney returns from injury.
The final match of the round sees cellar dwellers Wanganui and King Country clash at Wanganui.
Meanwhile, the second round of the third division sees surprise leaders Buller taking on competition favourites Poverty Bay in Gisborne.
- NZPA
