KEY POINTS:
Under normal circumstances Waikato might be apprehensive about pitching lock Kent Fife, a representative novice, into a game as big as tonight's Ranfurly Shield clash against Canterbury.
But such has been the playing depth, and squad culture developed in Waikato rugby in the past few years that coach
Warren Gatland has no doubt that even a relative rookie like Fife will more than measure up.
"The thing that we are really excited about is the depth we've managed to build," Garland said yesterday.
"We have got six players out with the All Blacks, Jonno Gibbes, Sosene Anesi and Richard Kahui out with injury and now Toby Lynn suspended. Not that long ago with nine or 10 players out we wouldn't have been able to compete with the bigger unions."
At the beginning of the season, Fife would have been behind Gibbes, Lynn, Keith Robinson and Mark Burman in the Waikato lock pecking order.
But, as was shown last weekend when so many inexperienced players excelled in the shield triumph over North Harbour, Waikato's youngsters have an ability to step up.
And although Fife has only a handful of representative games behind him, Gatland pointed out he has been in the development side, in the A squad for the past two seasons and was a member of the union's champion club, Hautapu.
Anesi failed a fitness test for what would have been his 50th Waikato game, so Gatland will field the same backline as last weekend, and the only change in the pack will be Lynn's enforced absence.
But although disappointed to have lost a player to suspension, Gatland was confident the drama over Lynn had not affected the side's preparation. "It's just like losing a player to injury," he said.
After the enormous euphoria and the inevitable celebration following last weekend's win, the team had settled down quickly and had a good preparation this week.
Gatland expected to have little trouble re-igniting the passion and adrenalin showed against Harbour.
"There is never any difficulty getting up for a game against Canterbury," he said.
The shield win, plus a win against Canterbury at home last year and the Chiefs' Super 14 win over the Crusaders this year - the first time that has happened in Christchurch - meant Waikato now had a lot of self-belief and confidence.
But to win, they would have to be as supercharged as they were last weekend.
"They're a quality side," Gatland said. "There's never ever a weak Canterbury team."
Canterbury have been successful in two recent shield challenges against Waikato, in 1994 and 2000.
Gatland had done a fair amount of analysis on them this year and was impressed that Canterbury had won many of their matches this season despite being shaded in territory and possession. This showed they had an ability to use the ball effectively and played with typical Canterbury efficiency.
He believed the sides were similar in physique and personnel, even to the point of having two young five-eighths on the verge of national honours in Stephen Donald and Stephen Brett.
Both unions had supporters who were passionate about their team and the shield.
But what might give Waikato an edge was playing at home before a crowd shaping as being close to a sellout.
Other than their All Blacks, Canterbury will be at full strength, but with only a handful of players who were aggrieved with the way the shield was lost to Harbour late last season - Campbell Johnstone, Corey Flynn, Wyatt Crocket, Kevin O'Neill, Mose Tuali'i in the pack and backs Casey Laulala and Scott Hamilton.
Coach Rob Penney, impressed by the way Waikato blew Harbour away, rated his side only a starter's chance yesterday, but said the team were excited about what should be a fantastic occasion. "It's what rugby needs at the moment," he said.
