Rugby: High playoff stakes rest on Mooloo trip

Auckland say they have the quality to cope with the loss of two players to the All Blacks. Photo / Getty Images

It's a promoter's dream, but Auckland and Waikato players might prefer a more sedate conclusion to domestic rugby's round robin.

As they run on to Waikato Stadium tomorrow, they could both be in the running for a semifinal spot. One thing is certain: they won't both make it.

Certain things need to go their way before their kickoffs. They needed Southland to lose last night's match against Canterbury. A Southland win would not be terminal to their hopes, but it unquestionably wouldn't help.

Then the ideal scenario would have Tasman finishing their time in the cup - if the 14-into-10 reduction occurs with the anticipated teams to drop out - with a win over second-placed Wellington tonight.

At the same time, Northland farewelling David Holwell with a victory over Hawkes Bay would open channels for Waikato and Auckland.

The All Blacks have gone - although it seems slightly strange to have Joe Rokocoko on the wing for Auckland, having appeared immovable from the All Black side - and both teams have had to make changes.

Prop John Afoa and blindside flanker Jerome Kaino are out for Auckland, ahead of Sunday's flight to Japan with the All Blacks.

Charlie Faumuina comes into the front row, while Peter Saili, who has performed well for Auckland in their up-and-down campaign, starts at No 6.

"Quality like that is hard to replace but we've got faith in the guys coming into it," Auckland coach Mark Anscombe said.

Waikato will certainly miss captain and flanker Liam Messam, after his deserved recall to the black jersey. Kent Fife gets his job.

Behind the scrum, there will be no Brendon Leonard-Stephen Donald combination, Trent Renata and Tawera Kerr-Barlow having the organisational roles.

Stand-in captain Callum Bruce is confident they will be up to the job, having absorbed lessons from early in the season when Waikato got off to a rocky start.

"Questions were asked and fingers were pointed, but the boys are capable of performing well and we've got full confidence they'll do that," Bruce said.

As for the leadership, it's not a role the second five-eighth is well acquainted with, apart from a stint at high school. But he is taking a low-key view of what will be required tomorrow night in that respect.

"They'll all be motivated to play, it's just a case of making a couple of decisions on the field and running out the tunnel first," he said.

North Harbour have a new captain for their final match of the season, against Manawatu in Palmerston North tomorrow.

Prop Michael Reid fills in, and switches to tighthead, with none of Harbour's three leaders from earlier in the season in the starting XV.

Former All Black back Anthony Tuitavake has been sidelined for several weeks with a pelvic injury; forward Anthony Boric is back in the All Blacks; and flanker Chris Smith is among the reserves.

James Afoa returns to loosehead prop; Tom Chamberlain is over a lower back injury which has troubled him in recent weeks to be blindside flanker; George Pisi has recovered from a shoulder injury and starts at centre; brother Ken moves to the right wing and Rudi Wulf starts on the left.

Both teams are looking at mid-table finishes, but in Manawatu's case the idea of a win in what is expected to be their last match in the cup competition for some time would give them a positive ending.

Wellington have All Black Conrad Smith available for their game against Tasman, having been given a leave pass from the All Blacks management.