KEY POINTS:
Their depth has already been sorely tested, now the resilience of Bay of Plenty and Southland holds the key to which battered squad progresses to the provincial semifinals.
Both teams may have been assured of a quarter-final berth before last weekend's final round of the regular season but
they still limped into the sudden death phase - and not only because they sustained heavy defeats.
Bay of Plenty earned home advantage for today's second quarter-final in Mt Maunganui but were well beaten by Hawkes Bay 46-12; Southland needed to upend Canterbury in Invercargill to stay at Rugby Park but came up well short, losing 25-6.
Their second clash at Bay Park Stadium in 16 days raises the prospect of another physically demanding encounter for two provinces struggling to nurse their personnel from week to week.
Neither side has made wholesale changes in reaction to their defeats because the well has figuratively run dry.
"We're on to our fifth No 8," joked Southland captain Jamie Mackintosh, "no one wants to wear the jersey".
Southland's problem area at the back of the scrum started in the pre-season when Iona Sipa broke down and since then Noa Soqeta and Hua Tamariki have come and gone.
David Hall, usually a hooker, stands in a fortnight after he thought he'd blown a knee against Tasman.
Bay of Plenty has a similar tale to tell with their doctor and physio among the most overworked staff at the cash-strapped union. "They're a bit like us," Mackintosh said.
"We've had five or six big injuries this year with the likes of (utility back) Jimmy (James) Wilson.
"We're down to our starting 15 and they're probably in a similar position.
"There's not a whole lot of depth if we get another couple of injuries."
Mackintosh said the campaign was understandably taking its toll, and results were suffering accordingly.
"It's been pretty tough fronting up for 80 minutes. They've started the same tight-five all season and it does get on top of you're starting 11 top class games in a row."
Steamers' hooker John Paraenga is the only member to miss a match while loosies Tanerau Latimer and Solomon King have also sat out a solitary game.
No 8 Colin Bourke is playing wounded - and might have to cover the midfield after coach Kevin Schuler named a five-forwards, two-backs split on his bench.
The emphasis on forward reserves follows last weekend's trouncing in Napier where the pack was eventually overwhelmed by Hawkes Bay.
Meanwhile, Taranaki are planning to become rugby's equivalent of the Warriors after originally expecting to miss the quarter-finals.
The Taranaki squad had prepared themselves for an end of season court session this week - but instead got out of jail when Ash Moeke's penalty after the hooter eliminated defending champion Auckland from the quarter-finals.
Taranaki captain Tony Penn watched the drama unfold in New Plymouth and joked he owed Northland halfback James Rodley a crate for signalling a kick at the posts at Eden Park.
Everyone else was for kicking the ball into touch, an outcome that would have retained Auckland's all important bonus point.
Instead Moeke raised the flags and suddenly the Sunday morning training session seemed worthwhile.
"We had a run before the Auckland game but with no expectation we'd be playing this week," Penn admitted.
"When Tasman got five points off Manawatu we thought that was it."
The Taranaki veteran thought his team had blown their chance after squandering a 21-point lead against Waikato but the two points they earned in Hamilton was enough for eighth - and a daunting trip to Wellington.
Taranaki do not have an impressive record in the capital and Penn was realistic enough to draw a parallel with the Warriors after they were handed a trip to then NRL favourites Melbourne for the first round of the play-offs.
Wellington coach Jamie Joseph predictably recalled the bevvy of stars spared Otago's campaign finale, with Cory Jane, Hosea Gear, Ma'a Nonu and Piri Weepu starting in a backline that was running amok before Tasman thwarted their momentum when the Ranfurly Shield was at stake.
Wellington v Taranaki
Wellington, 5.05pm today
Wellington:
Cory Jane
Buxton Popoali'i
Tamati Ellison
Ma'a Nonu
Hosea Gear
Piri Weepu (c)
Alby Matthewson
Thomas Waldrom
Scott Fuglistaller
Chris Masoe
Jeremy Thrush
Ross Filipo
Tim Fairbrother
Dane Coles
John Schwalger
Taranaki:
Jack Cameron
Paul Perez
Nathan Hohaia
Jayden Hayward
Shayne Austin
Willie Ripia
Brett Goodin
Taiasina Tuifua
Scott Waldrom
Chris Walker
Craig Clarke
Jason Eaton
Shane Cleaver
Andrew Hore
Tony Penn (c)
Reserves:
Wellington: Ged Robinson, Jacob Ellison, Api Naikatini, Rodney So'oialo, Daniel Kirkpatrick, Michael Hobbs, Tane Tu'ipulotu.
Taranaki: Laurence Corlett, Hamish Mitchell, Leon Power, Nemia Soqeta, Brendan Haami, Isaia Tuifua, Corey Niwa.
Bay of Plenty v Southland
Mt Maunganui, 7.35pm today
Bay of Plenty:
Zar Lawrence
Lance MacDonald
Cory Aporo
Nigel Hunt
Jason Hona
Mike Delany
Ruki Tipuna
Colin Bourke
Tanerau Latimer (c)
Solomon King
Culum Retallick
John Moore
John McGougan
John Pareanga
Joe Savage
Southland:
Robbie Robinson
Kendrick Lynn
Matt Saunders
Jason Kawau
Pehi Te Whare
Blair Stewart
Jimmy Cowan
David Hall
T. Boys/J. Hardie
Dion Bates
Hoani Macdonald
Josh Bekhuis
Chris King
Jason Rutledge
J Mackintosh (c)
Reserves:
Bay of Plenty: Dean Elmiger, Matt Wallace, Josh Katene, Aiden Kuka, Luke Braid, Josh Hall, Toby Arnold.
Southland: Matt Holloway, Fai Mika, Daniel Ramsay, John Hardie/Joe Tuineau, Scott Cowan, Mark Wells, Willie Rickards.
- NZPA