KEY POINTS:
Returning All Blacks utility Isaia Toeava will be pressed into service at first five-eighths for Auckland's backs-to-the-wall Ranfurly Shield defence against Wellington on Saturday night.
Toeava is a reluctant 10 at best but, with Lachie Munro out for the season with a dislocated shoulder, coach Shane Howarth's hand
has been forced.
"It is going to have to be Ice [Toeava], there is just nobody else," Howarth said.
"I know he doesn't like playing in the close quarters and he has shown he loves being out wide, but he is keen to just get on the field and play."
Toeava has been cleared by the All Blacks hierarchy to return to Auckland duty after enduring a modest workload following his mid-Tri-Nations recall to the international side.
The only other contender for the playmaker role, Ash Moeke, is on loan with Northland and won't be recalled.
Howarth will name his team today. It won't contain star winger Joe Rokocoko, who pulled a hamstring against Bay of Plenty on Friday night. Daniel Braid, who injured his ankle in the same match, is rated day-to-day.
Auckland go into the match $3 outsiders, with Wellington $1.35 favourites to lift the Shield for the first time in 26 years.
Howarth said he wasn't bothered by the odds or the fact most pundits viewed his side's chances as minimal at best.
"That's everyone's feeling and that's fine.
"Wellington are red-hot favourites. I don't think I've ever seen it where a home side with the Shield has been this much of an outsider.
"But when you look at the two campaigns, it is not hard to come to that conclusion."
If Auckland do have a glimmer of hope, it comes from a resilient defence that has not conceded a try on Eden Park in three Shield defences so far this season.
Howarth, however, knows that defence will be sorely tested by a Wellington side that has claimed a four-try bonus point in each of its seven outings this season.
"At 10 past nine on Saturday if we haven't conceded a try I will be doing cartwheels," Howarth said. "But for a game of this magnitude, just having the Shield on show is not going to be enough. From one to 22 we need to be at about 120 per cent to have a realistic chance of holding that Shield."
Wellington will also name their team today.
Skipper Piri Weepu and prop Neemia Tialata will be back in their line-up after being released by All Blacks management.
But the Lions will be without form openside flanker Serge Lilo, who ruptured medial and posterior cruciate ligaments in his knee in an incident for which Waikato lock Kevin O'Neil was cited but yesterday cleared of any foul play.
Lilo, who spent most of last year on the sidelines with a serious knee injury, faces another extended spell on the sidelines.
Wellington are said to be furious about the incident, accusing O'Neil of deliberately setting out to hurt Lilo in what was an off-the-ball incident.
Auckland, who head into the match sixth on the ladder, will be further reinforced next week when Jerome Kaino, John Afoa and Keven Mealamu return.
But that will be small consolation for Howarth, who is yet to taste defeat in his brief reign as Auckland coach thanks to last Friday's impressive comeback against Bay of Plenty and a nervy last-ditch stand against a fumble-prone Southland a week earlier.
However, with limited resources at his disposal to combat a super-confident Wellington side, that charmed run looks likely to come to an end on Saturday night.
