KEY POINTS:
New Waikato coach Tony Hanks is targeting nothing short of a provincial title but expects this year's competition to be wide open.
Hanks yesterday named his 28-strong squad for a campaign that begins against Northland in Whangarei on July 31.
He said a combination of uncertainty over the
Air NZ Cup's future structure and the fact some of the bigger unions, including Waikato, had lost significant numbers of players would level the playing field.
"We're going to be playing some teams that will be pretty desperate," he said.
"There's a lot of uncertainty about next year. There are going to be players and provinces that are not sure where they sit and are fighting for survival."
Hanks took over from Warren Gatland, who left at the end of the last season to take the job as Wales coach. He was Gatland's assistant when Waikato won the title in 2006 and also when they fell to Hawke's Bay at the quarter-final stage last year.
"We're not hiding the fact that it was disappointing to lose in the quarter-finals," he said.
"We're in this thing to win it. I think most teams go in with that attitude and we think we're as good a chance as any."
Hanks' selection contains 13 players who are considered new to the Waikato squad, although two of them - prop Josh Hohneck and loose forward Jordan Smiler - made their debuts for the province in the latter stages of last year.
Others with previous cup experience are All Blacks lock Kevin O'Neill (previously Canterbury), loose forwards Tom Harding and Faifili Levave (both Wellington) and inside back Callum Bruce (Otago).
Hanks said they and another recruit, New Zealand-born Queensland hooker Oli Avei, would help to make up for the experience lost through player retirement or departure overseas. O'Neill, Harding, Levave, Bruce, Avei and winger Tim Mikkelson are set to pull on the Waikato jersey for the first time in a pre-season match in Hamilton tomorrow night.
Loose forward and New Zealand Maori co-captain Liam Messam, who has played 50 games for Waikato, was named as the new skipper.
Players farewelled by Waikato since last year include Steven Bates, Marty Holah, Byron Kelleher, Roy Kinikinilau and Tom Willis, who have all headed overseas.
Former All Blacks locks Jono Gibbes and Keith Robinson have retired.
Another lock, Mark Burman, is recovering from knee surgery, as is All Blacks halfback Brendon Leonard.
All Blacks Mils Muliaina, Richard Kahui, Sione Lauaki, Sitiveni Sivivatu and Stephen Donald are expected to return at the end of the Tri-Nations.
- NZPA