Rugby: Week nine ITM Cup preview

Colin Slade is nack at first-five for Canterbury ahead of Stephen Brett. Photo / Getty Images

Wellington coach Andre Bell is under no illusions of the task ahead of his team when they take on Canterbury in Saturday's round nine ITM Cup match in Christchurch.

Bell has had to raid the casualty ward to line up a side in front of what he expects to be a near-capacity crowd of more than 35,000, made up mostly of baying home fans in a clash featuring last year's finalists.

The Canterbury Rugby Union opted to make the match free admission following the recent earthquakes in the region.

Early this week after a bruising 17-13 win over Hawke's Bay had them in fifth place on the standings, Wellington had a number of frontliners on injury watch including lock Jeremy Thrush and wing Hosea Gear.

No 8 Rodney So'oialo, and locks Daniel Ramsay and Mark Reddish, are not expected back from injury soon.

However, Bell was able to name Thrush and Gear for the match against Canterbury.

Bell admitted the injuries had been unsettling for preparations but felt his side would be up for the match, provided the senior players such as prop John Schwalger, skipper Neemia Tialata, Thrush, halfback Alby Matthewson and Gear stepped up.

"The whole competition is really close and Canterbury are in the same situation as us - they have lost two and drawn one and we need points after losing three games so both will be desperate for wins," Bell told NZPA.

"I understand it will be a full house at Christchurch and I guess there's no better motivation for our players."

Canterbury coach Rob Penney dropped a surprise when he benched Sonny Bill Williams for the match, preferring to bring Ryan Crotty back at second five after an injury break.

Crotty returns from a foot injury to partner the in-form Robbie Fruean in the midfield.

Williams, who missed the first five round with injury, has proven to be an adept offloader of the ball in the tackle but has shown weaknesses in other parts of his game, such as defensive positioning and securing possession on the ground.

The mid-table congestion involving five teams looks unlikely to be freed up this round as teams also begin to turn their attention to finishing among the top seven to secure a place at the top table for next year's new-look format.

Waikato, currently fifth on 22 points, lead a group of four teams sitting above or just below the cut and separated by just two points with four rounds of the regular season to go after this week's action. They take on Tasman in Hamilton on Saturday.

Northland and Bay of Plenty have 21 points each while early pace setters Counties Manukau are on 20.

Northland and Counties play at Pukekohe on Sunday while Bay of Plenty will fancy their chances against struggling Otago in Rotorua tomorrow.

Taranaki, tied on 27 points with Auckland and trailing leaders Southland by just three points, will fancy their chances of moving up at least one place from their visit to Hawke's Bay on Saturday.

North Harbour, 10th with 13 points, are the best of the rest. And after last week's 28-21 win over Tasman, North Harbour coach Craig Dowd has targeted Sunday's match with Manawatu in Albany to launch their push for a place among the elite for next season.

Southland and Auckland will open the round tonight with a Ranfurly Shield clash in Invercargill.

nzherald.co.nz will be providing livescoring of tonight's Ranfurly Shield clash. Coverage starts at 7.15pm.

- NZPA