The permutations of the provincial campaign are such that Waikato could end up holding the Ranfurly Shield again this year.
Canterbury, the new holders after thrashing Waikato 33-20 on Saturday, now face a challenge from Hawkes Bay in Christchurch this Friday night.
If the Bay win, then holdthe shield against Northland on September 14, they would face Waikato in Napier on September 22.
Waikato coach Warren Gatland, however, was not holding his breath on the chances of his side getting a second crack at the shield this season. He said that Auckland's easy win over the Bay on Thursday night had shown there was still a gap between Canterbury and Auckland and most of the other sides in the Air New Zealand Cup. Canterbury coach Rob Penney, though, is already viewing the Bay challenge with some wariness.
"They're a good side and have played well this season," he said. "They'll be excited about having a shield challenge."
Penney was especially concerned that Canterbury had only a six-day turn-around, pointing out that in the cup draw, starting with last weekend and ending with Taranaki on Thursday, September 13, they had been handed three games in a row with just six days in between.
Bay's recent shield form clearly makes them underdogs on Friday. Their two most recent challenges have ended in heavy defeats: 86-0 against Waikato in 1999 and 76-14 against Canterbury in 2003.
