Tasman's date down at bowling club

If all goes well for Tasman, there will be scenes of wild rugby related celebration at Nelson's Matai Bowling Club on Sunday afternoon.

If things don't work out, the fledgling Air New Zealand Cup side will no doubt toast the end to a season which saw them go close to making the quarter-finals.

After stunning Northland 56-15 in Blenheim last weekend, Tasman have given themselves a chance of an unlikely quarter-final berth against one of the Cup heavyweights.

They have to beat Taranaki in New Plymouth tomorrow - a bonus point for scoring four or more tries would help - then count on Northland dealing to Southland in Whangarei.

Going into the weekend Southland are on eight points in the repechage pool B, Tasman on five, Northland four, with Taranaki, who beat Tasman 22-15 in pool play, anchored on two.

Northland can reach the quarter-finals on Sunday if they beat Southland and Tasman lose. Southland beat Northland 36-21 in Whangarei in pool play.

Tasman coach Dennis Brown said any team in the Cup repechages could beat any other, pinpointing two factors that would see Taranaki intent on having a good day.

First, the game would be the 100th in amber and black for Taranaki captain Paul Tito.

Second, Taranaki would want to end a season littered with narrow defeats on a high.

"Taking all that into account we're expecting something that is a big challenge, a huge challenge," Brown said.

"If we get our ducks in a row and put pressure on the opposition we give ourselves a bit of a chance. I don't think too many other teams have been totally consistent.

"Northland in the last two weeks haven't been the same on both weekends. It's the same with most teams, in this repechage anyone is capable of beating anyone on the day.

"We've been progressing ... it hasn't exactly been showing on the scoreboard, not until last weekend anyway."

Since the pool play clash, Taranaki have been bolstered by All Blacks Andrew Hore and Jason Eaton, while Tasman have All Blacks lock Chris Jack and speedster Rico Gear on board.

Tasman will gather at Matai Bowling Club on Sunday to watch the Northland-Southland match, irrespective of how they fare in New Plymouth.

"Who knows what happens if we lose," Brown said.

"We're not too concerned with what happens in that game then, I'd suggest. Our season's over as such."

Whatever happened, Brown said he felt his side had earned credibility in its first season in the top ranks.

"If we complete a win on the weekend that would be even more satisfying, but in the meantime we have probably got close to where we needed to be.

"[Winning tomorrow] would probably put the icing on the cake."

Tito will become the 31st Taranaki player to reach 100 games and has admitted it will be an emotional moment for him.

Bay of Plenty have already won their way into the quarter-finals out of the other repechage pool.

- NZPA