Return of Spencer lifts Auckland

Auckland will be bolstered by the return of Carlos Spencer from a hamstring strain for their opening NPC match against Taranaki at Eden Park on Saturday.

But he will turn out at fullback to provide a place for James Arlidge at first five-eighths.

All Black tighthead prop Kees Meeuws will play in the front row with Keven Mealamu and Nick White.

Coach Wayne Pivac has stayed with Bradley Mika and Ali Williams at lock and it was obvious at training there was a good deal of tension among the tight five as they warmed to their work.

The scrum in the warm-up matches against Northland and Counties Manukau was given a difficult time and Pivac will want a better platform for a backline full of pace and experience.

Daniel Braid, a son of former All Black loose forward Gary Braid, has gained the No 7 jersey. Skipper Xavier Rush is at No 8 and Justin Collins is the blindside flanker.

Steve Devine played his first match last weekend, against Counties Manuakau, since suffering a serious ankle injury against the Crusaders on March 9.

He came through 40 minutes in good nick and has been listed to start at halfback.

Right wing Doug Howlett was not available and Malili Muliaina, who showed exceptional pace against Counties Manukau and scored twice, has retained the position.

Iliesa Tanivula plays on the left wing outside the slimmed-down and in-form 33-year-old Eroni Clarke and the experienced Lee Stensness.

It will be Clarke's 148th game for Auckland.

From past NPC experience Taranaki, who will not announce their side until today, will have no qualms facing Auckland on Eden Park, especially with a 2.35pm kick-off.

It is a time slot likely to suit Taranaki as they recall fondly their snatching of the Ranfurly Shield 42-39 on a sunny afternoon in 1996.

In the same conditions two years later they won 31-16.

Both sides have had a couple of warm-up games under their belts. Taranaki beat North Harbour 31-21 and Wellington 20-10.

Auckland drew 26-26 with Northland and thrashed Counties Manukau 65-22.

The curtain raiser at 12.45pm is the final of the Auckland secondary schools championship between traditional rivals Auckland Grammar School and King's College.

An earlier curtainraiser, at 11.10am, is between Tangaroa College and South Cross Campus.

Auckland: Carlos Spencer, Malili Muliaina, Eroni Clarke, Lee Stensness, Iliesa Tanivula, James Arlidge, Steve Devine, Xavier Rush (capt), Daniel Braid, Justin Collins, Bradley Mika, Ali Williams, Kees Meeuws, Keven Mealamu, Nick White. Reserves: James Christian, Scott Palmer, Angus MacDonald, Sione Lauaki, Tane Tuipulotu, Sam Tuitupou, David Gibson.

* Jonah Lomu will play a significant part for Wellington in tomorrow night's home match against Canterbury, despite starting on the bench.

Lomu arrived back from South Africa on Tuesday and was at training at WestpacTrust Stadium yesterday.

Coach Dave Rennie said it was a bonus having Lomu in the playing 22 because he did not expect any of his All Blacks to be available.

Wellington have a rather limited attack with injuries to Paul Steinmetz and Pita Alatini, and the absence of Tana Umaga and Christian Cullen.

Loose forward Sam Broomhall is the only present All Black named in Canterbury's starting line-up, but halfback Ben Hurst will keep the captaincy.

Test prop David Hewett will be on the bench.