Isaia Toeava will get a final chance to impress the national selectors and push his case for inclusion in the All Blacks touring squad to South Africa after being named at fullback for Auckland in their ITM Cup match against North Harbour.
Toeava played 40 minutes off the bench for
Auckland against Taranaki last week, but he is expected to play at least an hour in Sunday's match.
"They (the All Black selectors) want us to use him and give him more game time. They haven't told us where so we've decided for our game this week we want to play him at fullback," Auckland coach Mark Anscombe said.
"He's not going to play the full 80 minutes but we'll see how he's going at the hour mark."
Anscombe has made six changes to the starting 15 that beat Southland for Sunday's match against local rivals North Harbour.
Tom McCartney resumes his regular position of hooker in place of Ash Dixon as Pauliasi Manu moves into loosehead prop.
With Josh Townsend and Richard Haddon both ruled out of Sunday's match after being concussed against Southland, Josh Katene has been drafted into the team and will make his debut for Auckland at lock alongside Steven Luatua.
Sean Polwart has overcome a partial tear in his quadricep tendon to slot back into flanker, while halfback Toby Morland will start ahead of Alby Mathewson.
Anscombe has stuck with the same midfield combination of Hadleigh Parkes and Teddy Stanaway but changed his outside backs, with Toeava's inclusion seeing Brent Ward shunted to the wing as George Moala makes his first start for Auckland in place of Joe Rokocoko.
Blues and Auckland lock Liaki Moli is also poised to play his first game of rugby this year after being named on the bench.
While Anscombe believed the traditional Battle of the Bridge may have lost some of its significance to the media, he said it still meant as much as ever to the players.
"Our guys are really looking forward to it and don't want to lose to Harbour, and I'm sure if there's one game Harbour want to win it's against us."
Auckland: Isaia Toeava, Brent Ward, Teddy Stanaway, Hadleigh Parkes, George Moala, Gareth Anscombe, Toby Morland, Chris Lowrey, Sean Polwart, Nathan Hughes, Steven Luatua, Josh Katene, Charlie Faumuina, Tom McCartney, Pauliasi Manu.
Reserves: Ash Dixon, Tevita Mailau, Liaki Moli, Ben Masoe, Alby Mathewson, Piers Francis, Joe Rokocoko, Angus Ta'avao.
- NZPA
Isaia Toeava will start at fullback for Auckland. Photo / Getty Images
Isaia Toeava will get a final chance to impress the national selectors and push his case for inclusion in the All Blacks touring squad to South Africa after being named at fullback for Auckland in their ITM Cup match against North Harbour.
Toeava played 40 minutes off the bench for
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