After months of slogging through summer, the Blues and Waratahs meet in their final trial match tonight before the start of the final season of Super 12.
Both coaching groups have a few selection issues to settle before next Friday's kickoff to the 10th season of this competition and have
rested any players troubled by injury.
Using trial games as a pointer to Super 12 form can be a dangerous practice as the Blues discovered last year when they romped through some practice games and then struggled in the tournament.
However they will need to be sharper than the squad was in the loss last week to the Hurricanes.
Most importantly, they will try to give Tasesa Lavea and Luke McAlister half a game each in case playmaker Carlos Spencer is ruled out of the first match because of his foot injury.
There will also be a serious review of the best combination at lock and blindside flanker for the series opener against the Highlanders at Carisbrook.
Ali Williams, Bradley Mika, Greg Rawlinson, Angus Macdonald, Justin Collins and Jerome Kaino all come into that selection evaluation.
The Blues will be tested thoroughly by the Waratahs, who have picked a tight five and backline favoured to start the competition.
"This game is our last before the start of the comp so we need to improve and work through our combinations," Blues coach Peter Sloane said.
* Blues vs Waratahs
Whangarei, tonight 6pm
Blues
Mils Muliaina
Isa Nacewa
Luke McAlister
Sam Tuitupou
Joe Rokocoko
Tasesa Lavea
David Gibson
Xavier Rush (c)
Daniel Braid
Angus Macdonald
Ali Williams
Brad Mika
John Afoa
Keven Mealamu
S. Taumoepeau
Waratahs
Mat Rogers
Peter Hewat
Morgan Turinui
Shaun Berne
Lote Tuqiri
Lachlan MacKay
Chris Whitaker (c)
David Lyons
Rocky Elsom
Stephen Hoiles
Daniel Vickerman
Justin Harrison
Al Baxter
Adam Freier
Matt Dunning
Reserves -
Blues: Derren Witcombe, Taufa'ao Felise, Greg Rawlinson, Justin Collins, Nick Williams, Tom Harding, Steve Devine, Rua Tipoki, Jamie Helleur, Rudi Wulf.
Waratahs: Gareth Hardy, Brendan Cannon, Aaron Broughton-Rouse, Alex Kanaar, Wycliff Palu/Lei Tomiki, Phil Waugh, Chris O'Young, Nathan Grey, Chris Siale, Winston Mafi, Cameron Shepherd.
