Battle has personal notes

Byron Kelleher reckons squaring off with a quality opponent brings out the best in him; Piri Weepu says he takes no notice of who he's up against.

Different strokes, different blokes but their battle at Wellington's Cake Tin tonight is one of several that will provide fascinating side issues to the main event when the Chiefs visit the Hurricanes.

The main order of business is Super 14 points. The Hurricanes, third on 34 points, are almost safe in the semifinals; the Chiefs, seventh on 27 points, must win. Nothing less will do if they are to stay in the hunt with three rounds remaining.

But the All Black selectors will take note of several personal contests, of which the No 9s and No 13s - where Mils Muliaina again presents his credentials against his main centre rival, Ma'a Nonu - are of particular interest.

Kelleher, with 39 tests behind him, is used to a skirmish for the test job. He had several years of fierce confrontations with Justin Marshall and now Weepu has emerged as a tough rival.

Kelleher's form has been patchy this year, although he insists his statistics paint a reasonable picture.

The pugnacious 29-year-old says he thrives on the whiff of battle.

"It definitely encourages you and makes it exciting to know you're up against another very good halfback," he said.

"I've always made sure I've put myself in front of challenges, and I think that brings out the best in you."

As for Weepu in particular, Kelleher says the focus is solely on the Chiefs. Anything else, he says, he'll worry about when All Black time comes around.

Weepu, who has made a surge from fringe All Black to a core member of the various test squads in the past year, has mixed some fine moments with some ordinary. But as for who he's up against, it could be Sid Going for all the notice he professes to take.

"I only focus on my own game," said the 22-year-old Weepu, who has played eight tests. "You hear things, like there's going to be a big battle between Piri Weepu and whoever. But I don't really think about it a lot, whoever I'm playing against."

Then there's Muliaina, in the odd position of being the first-choice fullback for the All Blacks but is now odds-on to begin the international year at centre, up against hard-charging but erratic Nonu.

Sam Tuitupou has been in strong form this year and is up against the old warrior Tana Umaga at second five-eighths. You might hear their collisions from the stands.

Don't forget Marty Holah, captaining the Chiefs again tonight and doubtless determined to prove to the All Black selectors that he still has a role to play.

His technically sound, indefatigable style will contrast with the man who took his All Black spot late last year, Chris Masoe, a different, altogether more explosive type of opensider.

Indeed the loose forward contest will be fascinating. Liam Messam - up and coming, athletic and versatile - is opposing the Hurricanes and All Black hard man Jerry Collins, and Steven Bates should lose little in comparison with the Hurricanes captain and No 8, encumbent All Black Rodney So'oialo.

Chiefs coach Ian Foster acknowledged games between the New Zealand teams invariably have an extra edge. The points table will ensure this clash has additional spice.

Since narrowly losing to the Crusaders and Brumbies, two of the four pacesetters, the Chiefs have won three and drawn one to be clinging on to the playoff frame.

"We've been walking a tightrope in those last four games," Foster said.

"I've been really proud of the way the guys have hung in there.

"The way we've handled the pressure of the last four weeks has been fantastic and to be honest this week is no different."

Hurricanes v Chiefs
Wellington, 7.35 tonight

Hurricanes
Isaia Toeava
Lome Fa'atau
Ma'a Nonu
Tana Umaga
Shannon Paku
David Holwell
Piri Weepu
Rodney So'oialo (c)
Chris Masoe
Jerry Collins
Paul Tito
Jason Eaton
Neemia Tialata
Andrew Hore
Joe McDonnell
Reserves:
Luker Mahoney, John Schwalger, Luke Andrews, Thomas Waldrom, Brendan Haami, Jimmy Gopperth, Tamati Ellison.

Chiefs
Sosene Anesi
Anthony Tahana
Mils Muliaina
Sam Tuitupou
Sitiveni Sivivatu
Stephen Donald
Byron Kelleher
Steven Bates
Marty Holah (c)
Liam Messam
Sean Hohneck
Bernie Upton
Ben Castle
Tom Willis
Simms Davison
Reserves: Aleki Lutui, Nathan White, Kristian Ormsby, Nili Latu, Jamie Nutbrown, David Hill, Mark Ranby.