ITM Cup: Harbour on the cusp of playoffs

North Harbour halfback Bryn Hall. Photo / Getty Images

The rugby gods gave North Harbour a break last weekend, and now the perennial ITM Cup under-achievers have a chance at playoffs footy for the first time since Allan Pollock took the 2006 side to the then Air New Zealand Cup quarter-finals.

North Harbour took a bad 58-27 hit at the hands of Northland last weekend, but losses by Southland and Otago kept them in the hunt.

Bay of Plenty is now out of the reckoning after their defeat to Waikato on Thursday.

Now North Harbour need to lower the winless and woeful Wellington Lions in the capital.

That done, they can head to the airport and cheer loudly for Hawke's Bay to retain the Shield and shut Southland out from the Championship semifinal calculations.

Coach Steve Jackson is down to his third-string halfback Luke Hamilton, a jaunty competitor who will feed Matt McGahan in the No 10 jersey.

Luke Devcich, who has been outstanding at times in 2014, replaces Nafi Tuitavake on the wing. In the pack, Jordan Manihera slots in at No 6, Mike Farmer at lock, and Zak Judge on the openside flank.

"We thought the boys lacked a bit of energy last week, so hopefully Jordan will bring that," said Jackson.

Despite the flogging, North Harbour did secure a bonus point for four tries, which may prove invaluable today. But the attitude and focus will need to be ramped up today, or a Lions outfit desperate to salvage something from a wreck of a season could dampen their ardour.

"We were bad (against Northland). I know the players know they were bad. We were lethargic and fell off tackles," Jackson said.

"The rugby gods did us a favour last week. Our fate is now in our hands. If the guys want to be in the semis we have to win. But I don't care what the results have been, Wellington will be tough at home in their last game. They've got about four Super Rugby players in their pack, and guys like Motu Matu'u and TJ Perenara are back. Brad Shields has been holding them together as captain."

North Harbour has produced the goods on most occasions in 2014, and lock and skipper Hayden Triggs has been in the thick of it.

"I'd be really disappointed if Triggsy didn't make a Super Rugby side," declared Jackson.

• Auckland require simply a bonus-point win over Northland at Eden Park tonight in a crossover clash to secure their Premiership semifinal berth. The Taniwha have not beaten their big Blues cousins since 2008, but have been in stunning form at times in 2014 under the coaching of Derren Witcombe. They are already safely into the Championship semifinals.

Counties Manukau will know if their season is still alive by about 9.15pm tonight, and then they can set about taking down the Makos in Blenheim.

Today's games

Wellington v North Harbour, Wellington (crossover), 2.35pm
Hawke's Bay v Southland, Napier (RS, Championship), 5.35pm
Auckland v Northland, Auckland (crossover), 7.35pm

Tomorrow's games

Taranaki v Canterbury, New Plymouth (Premiership), 2.35pm
Tasman v Counties Manukau, Blenheim (Premiership), 4.35pm