KEY POINTS:
There is a certain symmetry about the Blues and Lions - Super 14 underachievers last year but defeated only once this season.
That suggests a tasty meeting tonight at Eden Park, the sort of broad inquisition that has not been delivered by any Blues' rival this season.
Several
brought strong packs and willing defences but marginal backline firepower, the Crusaders had invention without experience and others, such as the Hurricanes, rode their fortune and the Blues' indiscipline.
The Lions have a determined group of forwards - nothing flashy, with only one Springbok, Jacque Cronje, in their midst, but a solid combination who have improved at the setpiece and shown the sort of grit that epitomises stand-in skipper Ernst Joubert.
Behind them, the Lions can vary their play and use the test class of halfback Enrico Januarie, five-eighths Andre Pretorius and centre Jacque Fourie. It looks a potent enough lineup, the sort that spurred them to their last four wins in succession.
But those victories were not by great margins and the Reds, Force, and All Black-less Highlanders and Crusaders have hardly been hot-shots. You start to wonder if the Lions have dragged their opponents down a level.
The Blues are a different challenge. They have an attacking clout across the park and have welded that to some serious impact from their forwards. Coach David Nucifora has added even further to the side's physical edge tonight by picking Nick Williams at No 8 and slipping the combative Sam Tuitupou into midfield. Throw in seasoned five-eighths David Holwell, who is a quality defender, and the Lions' attacking avenues look slim.
No extra motivation is needed for South African-born Greg Rawlinson, his captain Troy Flavell or the team, with victory tonight the best way to begin their bye week.
"They're always quite a bit bigger up front, more physical and taller in the lineout, so it's always more of a challenge for us forwards," Rawlinson said. "It's probably a style I'm a bit more used to. I always challenge myself to get up these matches."
EDEN PARK, AUCKLAND, 7.35 TONIGHT
Blues
Ben Atiga
Doug Howlett
Isaia Toeava
Sam Tuitupou
Rudi Wulf
DavidHolwell
David Gibson
Nick Williams
Daniel Braid
Jerome Kaino
Troy Flavell (c)
Greg Rawlinson
John Afoa
Derren Witcombe
S. Taumoepeau
Reserves: Chris Heard, Nick White, Anthony Boric, Angus Macdonald, Steve Devine, Isa Nacewa, Luke McAlister.
Lions
Earl Rose
Louis Ludik
Jaque Fourie
D. La Grange
Jaco Pretorius
Andre Pretorius
Enrico Januarie
Jacques Cronje
Ernst Joubert (c)
C. Grobbelaar
Anton van Zyl
Cobus Grobler
Brian Mujati
Willie Wepener
H. van der Merwe
Reserves: Ethienne Reynecke, Bertus Smit, Franco van der Merwe, Willem Alberts, Jano Vermaak, Louis Strydom, Jaco van Schalkwyk