Auckland up against NPC's form team, says Lam

Luke McAlister in action for North Harbour. Herald picture / Paul Estcourt

Auckland coach Pat Lam says his side will be up against the NPC's form team when they meet North Harbour in a first division rugby semifinal on Saturday night.

While Auckland have had to pick themselves up from the disappointment of their unsuccessful Ranfurly Shield challenge against Canterbury last weekend, their opponents have momentum on their side.

Harbour will run out on to Eden Park on the back of a four-match winning streak.

Pulling the strings behind their impressive pack will again be classy pivot Luke McAlister, who missed the opening-round clash between the sides, won 27-10 by Auckland, because of test duty.

"They've been the form team in the last month or so," Lam said today.

"They're different with Luke there and their forwards have been going well. They've been a real complete team."

Lam's own lineup features four changes from that which began against Canterbury, with Mils Muliaina being included at centre for his first start of the NPC season.

Muliaina, who is headed to Waikato next year, has been used off the bench since returning from the All Blacks last month, but gets the nod at the expense of Ben Atiga.

The other changes are the inclusion of Isa Nacewa at second five-eighth, Jerome Kaino at No 8 and Keven Mealamu at hooker.

Nacewa replaces Sam Tuitupou, who is recovering from a knock to a shin and is bracketed on the bench with wing Joe Rokocoko, who has a hamstring problem.

Kaino, who was in the reserves last weekend after coming back from injury, is preferred to Brad Mika.

Mealamu takes over from test teammate Derren Witcombe, who is out for at least six months with a neck injury.

Lam said the midfield backs had been an area that had posed difficult selection questions for him in recent weeks, with Muliaina, Nacewa, Tuitupou and Atiga all quality players.

"Ben has played well, but we're just giving Mils the opportunity," he said.

"He did well in both the Wellington and Canterbury games when he came on. This week is his chance to start."

Lam said Auckland would continue with an attacking mindset, adding that it hadn't taken his players long to get over the Shield defeat.

"Very quickly -- I think straight after the game," he said.

"Obviously our main concern was Derren, and then we looked at areas where we fell short and we fell short in quite a few."

He cited mistakes as an issue, saying the number of handling errors his team made at Jade Stadium was their highest of the season.

"That's the pressure Canterbury put on us," he said.

"And we didn't take our opportunities."

While Harbour might have recent form, Auckland will have history favouring them when the 23rd "battle of the bridge" takes place.

Auckland have come out on top on all four occasions they have faced their neighbours in the playoffs -- in the 1994 final and in three semifinals.

- NZPA