KEY POINTS:
If they are to survive the first serious test of their Ranfurly Shield reign, North Harbour will need to demonstrate a better finishing touch than they showed in last week's national championship opener against Northland.
Harbour made 16 line-breaks in that match but scored from just two of
them. They should have had the game won by halftime but instead fell behind and were lucky to escape with a 27-27 draw thanks to a desperate late rally.
"We certainly did enough to win that game in terms of line breaks," coach Wayne Pivac said. "Our conversion rate was 13 per cent. Normally we'd want about a 25 per cent conversion rate or more, so 13 per cent was very disappointing.
"When you consider the 23 handling errors and 35 turnovers [conceded], we were very lucky to get away with a draw."
A scratchy draw tonight would be good enough for Harbour to retain the Shield but Pivac hopes for more from his side.
"First things first is getting the four points, in other words winning the game. The Ranfurly Shield is very important to us and we'd dearly love to hold on to it so the focus is very much about winning this week, obviously."
Taranaki head to North Harbour Stadium with the upper hand in terms of head-to-head Shield encounters, having repelled Harbour 13-11 in 1996 in what was their only successful defence of a brief reign. Harbour were strong favourites to take the Shield that day. The bookies once again fancy Harbour but Pivac knows his side must significantly improve on last week's effort if their Shield reign isn't to be equally as brief.
"It's really about being more clinical and taking advantage of any breaks that come our way."
Pivac isn't overly despondent about last week's result.
"We haven't lost yet. It is only round one of the competition and my experience is that it's a bit of a roller coaster, the NPC. Certainly no team has won a championship in round one. So we are pretty upbeat. It's not the end of the world, that draw last week."
The last 12 championship matches between the two sides have been won by the side playing at home but Pivac is wary of a Taranaki side who look to have improved after a poor showing last year.
"I think they are playing the game with more intensity and more speed than they have done in recent years ... They are really looking to up the ante so we have got to make sure that we are awake and defend very well against them. If we are a bit slow in regrouping, they'll take full advantage."
Harbour are without flanker Rob Colhoun, who has been banned for two matches for reckless use of the boot against Northland. He has been replaced by Tom Chamberlain.
Harbour's front row woes have also eased with the availability of Ben Afeaki and Sam Biddles.
Pivac has named an unchanged backline for the match.
North Harbour
North Harbour Stadium, 7.35 tonight
George Pisi
Villiame Waqaseduadua
Anthony Tuitavake
Rudi Wulf
Jack McPhee
Tusi Pisi
Junior Poluleuligaga
Nick Williams (c)
Tom Chamberlain
Anthony Boric
Greg Rawlinson
Ryan Wilson
Ben Afeaki
Tom McCartney
James Afoa
Taranaki
Scott Ireland
Shayne Austin
Mathew Harvey
Mark Stewart
Paul Perez/Michael Tagicakibau
Kurt Morath
Brett Goodin
Jarrad Hoeata
Scott Waldrom
John Willis
Courtney Mackay
Craig Clarke
Hamish Mitchell
Andrew Hore
Tony Penn (c)
Reserves:
North Harbour: James Hinchco, Sam Biddles, Chris Smith, Villiame Ma'afu, Daniel Deveraux, Michael Harris, Puanani Hunia.
Taranaki: (one to omit) James Annabell, Laurence Corlett, Daniel Middlemiss, Tomasi Soqeta, Ray Stark, Matt France, Jack Cameron, Michael Tagicakibau/Malo Asalemo.