Harbour spoiled for choice

Allan Pollock says Tusi Pisi suffers from the idea that a No 10 must be a kicker. Sandra Mu / Getty Images

Luke McAlister at No 10 or No 12? That's chief among the selection issues confronting North Harbour coaches Allan Pollock and Milan Yelavich as they prepare for their quarter-final against Otago at Albany on Sunday.

Or, put another way, do they stick with Tusi Pisi at first five-eighth, where he made an impact in the final quarter against Waikato last Sunday, or stay with captain Rua Tipoki at second five-eighth?

Tipoki has been a quickstepping midfield rock for Harbour this season, as he was last year. Waikato had the game won when they raced to a 31-3 halftime lead in Hamilton. When Pisi was introduced for the final quarter, and McAlister moved out one spot to the role he's had in the last three of his 10 tests, things clicked.

Pisi ducked through a gap and set up McAlister for a try. Pisi threatened a couple of other times.

Pollock and Yelavich have a curly issue: put McAlister where he might ultimately spend the bulk of his career - even though six of his test appearances have been at No 10 - or stick with the experienced Tipoki as the tried-and-trusted No 12 option.

"Luke is a gifted player who would add value to any team in that [No 12] position," Pollock said. But, "the fact that Rua is our captain is relevant.

"You run through all the possible permutations about which team is going to give us the strongest team on the paddock, and which is best able to counter the opposition."

Pollock has plenty of time for 24-year-old Pisi, but because he's not the most prolific goalkicker, believes he suffers from the misconception that a No 10 must be a quality kicker.

"I really rate Tusi, but too many people just judge a first-five on his goalkicking. We have this hangup that first-fives are normally goalkickers."

And with 23-year-old McAlister there to handle the kicking, Pisi offers intriguing possibilities at No 10. Harbour have a fit squad to pick from, All Black loosehead prop Tony Woodcock over a slight calf strain which took him out of the Waikato match.

That means he will square off with his test front row buddy Carl Hayman. The pair are rated among the world's best props in their specialist roles. To the uninitiated, what happens in scrums is as fathomable as a DNA chart. But the participants like it for that.

"It's a fantastic head-to-head," Pollock said. "There's always a twinkle in Tony's eye when you start talking scrummaging."