From whichever angle you look at it, tomorrow night's crosstown showdown has Blues trial written all over it.
Certainly several All Blacks are absent from the Auckland and North Harbour teams who will run out at Eden Park to open week six of the Air New Zealand Cup.
But that's
likely to add intensity to the proceedings. No matter how much the players might want to put it out of their minds, running out in a blue jersey next year is a mighty incentive to perform tomorrow night.
Without question, Blues coaches David Nucifora and Joe Schmidt will take a close interest in how the match - and personal battles - play out.
"It's unbelievably special," Harbour coach Allan Pollock said of the rivalry between the teams.
"No two teams in New Zealand know each other better, both as individuals and through combinations at the Blues. We had a very fair representation in this year's Blues, so the pressure is on.
"My whole backline would like to be playing in blue next year. I can only imagine the Auckland backline perceive themselves as Blues players, and they're not all going to fit."
The provincial lines get blurred on these occasions.
"In offices around Auckland there's divided loyalties," Auckland coach Pat Lam said.
"In my house, my wife is a Shore girl, guys in our team live on the Shore, and there are guys in theirs who live over here."
Take Exhibit No 1, Nick Williams. The hard-charging Harbour No 8 lives in South Auckland.
"It's quite funny. I see more of the Auckland boys than the Harbour boys," he said yesterday.
"But at the end of the day it's rugby and once the whistle goes it's every man for himself."
There are fascinating matchups across the park. Brent Ward and George Pisi at fullback; promising David Smith and flying Vili Waqaseduadua on one wing; good buddies Ben Atiga and Isa Nacewa up against Anthony Tuitavake and Rua Tipoki in midfield; Andrew Blowers and Williams at No 8; Saimone Taumoepeau and Mike Noble in the front row.
Harbour are coming off the bye. No team has yet won on their return from a break in the cup, but Harbour, the only unbeaten team in pool A, are travelling well. Noble, back after serving his three-week ban for punching, is the only change from that which beat Wellington 11 days ago.
Lam has made five changes from the 14-11 loss in the capital last Saturday. Nacewa and Steve Devine, who is captain, return to the backline, flanker Daniel Braid, lock Kurtis Haiu and hooker Derren Witcombe are back in the pack.
Lam wants a significant improvement on a lacklustre effort against Wellington, where all sorts of issues arose, notably a dodgy lineout and failure to impose themselves on their opponents proved costly.
"We've put a lot of time into tidying up areas that we needed to," Lam said.
Harbour captain Tipoki hopes he is right that the bye came at a good time.
"Some guys had taken a day or two longer to get over knocks. Listening to a few of the boys, and the way I was feeling myself, the break came at a really good time - but only time will tell," he added.
* Eden Park, 7.35pm tomorrow
AUCKLAND
Brent Ward
James Somerset
Ben Atiga
Isa Nacewa
David Smith
Tasesa Lavea
Steve Devine (c)
Andrew Blowers
Daniel Braid
Jerome Kaino
Kurtis Haiu
Brad Mika
Nick White
Derren Witcombe
S Taumoepeau
NORTH HARBOUR
George Pisi
V Waqaseduadua
A Tuitavake
Rua Tipoki (c)
Rudi Wulf
Tusi Pisi
J Poluleuligaga
Nick Williams
Regan Tamihere
Vili Ma'afu
Anthony Boric
Doug Fletcher
Mike Noble
James Hinchco
Adrian Donald
Reserves:
Auckland: Res: Tevita Mailau/Semisi Telefoni, Chris Heard, Joe Tekori, Onosa'a Tololima-Auva'a, Taniela Moa, Lachie Munro, Roimata Hansell-Pune.
North Harbour: Roger Dustow, Michael Reid, Ryan Wilson, Daniel Kane, James Rodley, Jack McPhee, Jonah Lomu.
From whichever angle you look at it, tomorrow night's crosstown showdown has Blues trial written all over it.
Certainly several All Blacks are absent from the Auckland and North Harbour teams who will run out at Eden Park to open week six of the Air New Zealand Cup.
But that's
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