Novices get a run as Blues adjust to late arrival of All Blacks

Luke Mcalister will get the opportunity to stake a claim at first and second five-eighths this season but tonight's trial against the battling Reds in Brisbane won't help answer that, or any of the other Blues selection mysteries.

McAlister won't even take part in the opening trial and his first five-eighths rival, Tasesa Lavea, is on the bench, with youngster Daniel Bowden to start in the No 10 jersey.

A development-type team, including many players who will not see the light of day for the rest of the inaugural Super 14 season, will take the field at Ballymore.

They will be led by second five-eighths Rua Tipoki, who made the Blues squad only via a draft-dodging exemption.

Captaincy favourite, new All Black Angus Macdonald, is not scheduled to take any part tonight. The Blues captain and vice-captain are expected to be confirmed next week.

For the first time in the Blues history, they will be without Carlos Spencer to run the show at first five-eighths.

On national rankings, McAlister would be expected to shade Lavea for the job, but McAlister is also a candidate for second five-eighths where his North Harbour team mate Tipoki is the only other obvious contender.

Blues coach David Nucifora said: "We have options to look at there and we'll give Luke game time at 10 in the trial games and also at 12. Then we'll see what works best for us."

The odds at this stage would favour Nucifora going with Lavea and McAlister in the starters when the Super 14 begins.

McAlister, with Justin Collins, Steve Devine and Anthony Tuitavake, were not considered for tonight because of minor injury problems. Troy Flavell is yet to return from Japan.

Nucifora has been hamstrung by the late return of All Blacks Doug Howlett, Joe Rokocoko, Keven Mealamu, Tony Woodcock and Ali Williams, who joined the squad at the airport yesterday and were not considered for the Ballymore game.

"The competition starts two weeks earlier this year and we got together a week later," said Nucifora.

"It does put more pressure on all the teams to be better organised. Your preparation has to be spot on ... the games have not been the focus for us in the first week.

"As a coach you'd like the players to be there longer but you also want them fresh, and those All Blacks do need the rest they've been given.

"We've got limited training time with our full team and for us, it is more about training preparation right now.

"We didn't want to play guys and have them sore and injured for the first four days of the week."

Tonight's starters include wider training squad members Bowden, James Somerset, James Helleur, Roger Dustow and Regan Tamihere, with two other novices in the reserves.

The Blues will use increasingly stronger lineups in trials against the Waratahs and Western Force before their opening Super 14 assignment against the Hurricanes.

Reds coach Jeff Miller has named former Brisbane Broncos league player Berrick Barnes at first five-eighths. The 19-year-old Barnes had nine first-grade games for the Broncos.

Miller's big selection call is at centre. With Ben Tune having yet more injury problems, back-up Andrew Brown also having knee concerns and Junior Pelesasa recruited by the Western Force, first five-eighths Julian Huxley - who had a spell with Northland - will start there.

Captain John Roe is out with a foot injury. Key backs Elton Flatley and Drew Mitchell are on the bench. 


Teams

Reds
* Chris Latham, Tim Atkinson, Julian Huxley, Lloyd Johansson, Caleb Brown, Berrick Barnes, Sam Cordingley; Ben Mowen, Tom McVerry, Hugh McMeniman, Mark Connors (c), Mitchell Chapman, Tom Court, Stephen Moore, Greg Holmes.

Blues
* George Pisi, James Somerset, Jamie Helleur, Rua Tipoki (c), Vili Waqaseduadua, Daniel Bowden, John Senio; Nick Williams, Regan Tamihere, Kurtis Haiu, Greg Rawlinson, Anthony Boric, Mike Noble, Roger Dustow, Saimone Taumoepeau.