Tricky situation looms on the wings for Lam

Joe Rokocoko will be on the right wing for Auckland. Picture / Brett Phibbs

Doug Howlett would doubtless take a different view, but Joe Rokocoko may offer a glimpse of the future against Otago at Eden Park tonight.

Howlett, the regular Auckland right wing, is one of seven All Blacks who are not due to return to Air New Zealand Cup action until next week.

And in a way that may have offered Auckland coach Pat Lam a route out of a potentially tricky spot.

Rokocoko returns tonight, but not to his regular left wing position. That job remains with the in-form David Smith, who is a perfect example of a player who has benefited hugely from the All Blacks' absence from the national championship.

Smith, with his all-action style, aggressive running and sharp speed, has quickly become a crowd favourite. His 60m solo try against Waikato last weekend did his standing no harm either.

But he's far from a finished article. What he is, is a breath of fresh air.

And Lam likes what he's seen.

"On our pre-season tour we realised he had a long way to go," Lam said.

"Give him the ball and he's dangerous. But the off-the-ball stuff is what we're more pleased about. His positional play, work rate and work ethic, that's the big thing we want to see in our wings."

And it's no snub to Rokocoko that he's been switched to the right. He's no stranger to it.

"He's keen, and even at All Black level they're keen for him to play both sides. David is the form winger, he's playing very well at the moment and we're just fortunate to have both guys, particularly with Dougie still away."

Howlett, who has scored 42 tries in his 55 tests, turned 28 on Thursday, so he's hardly reaching for his pension book. But Rokocoko is 23 and Smith just 20.

This weekend's scenario may merely be forestalling an inevitable logjam by a week, but as with other backline spots Lam is in an enviable position.

Ben Atiga's dodgy knee has him bracketed for the bench, but Lam has put another returning All Black, Isaia Toeava, at centre, where the national selectors want to get a look at him.

Auckland are in the happy situation of being masters of their own fate. Win tonight and they're certainties for a top-two finish and guaranteed home quarter-final.

What they would really like is to put a good quality 80-minute effort on the park. That has eluded them this season.

"We've been talking about it this week," fullback Brent Ward said.

"We're having a good 10 minutes then dropping off for 10. It is disappointing."

Ward, fully recovered from a stray thumb in the eye which quickly closed up in the first half against Waikato, puts it down to Auckland's skills letting them down.

"But we're trying to make sure if things go against us we stick to the systems and hopefully that will bring us through."

On the other side of halfway tonight, Otago know a loss means they're facing road trips for the remainder of their campaign.

* Waikato halfback Brendon Leonard gets a vote of approval from coach Warren Gatland with his inclusion for today's visit by Wellington to Hamilton.

Leonard missed last week's draw with Auckland with a foot injury. He has been one of Waikato's most consistently impressive performers this season.

And, now fully fit, he keeps All Black No 9 Byron Kelleher on the bench. However, the nuggety Kelleher is sure to see some game time as Waikato chase five points to stay in the hunt for a top-two spot.

There is scope for some fascinating matchups today - Richard Kahui against Conrad Smith at centre, Sione Lauaki against Jerry Collins at No 8, Leonard against Piri Weepu among them.

The race for home quarter-finals is tight, and if Wellington can grab a win today it will set up an enthralling final week of the Top Six. Gatland and his men would sooner settle for a less frenetic finish - and, like Auckland, that's in their own hands.