By WYNNE GRAY
Auckland have retained their Twin Towers lineout for Friday's sudden-death clash against Wellington, with coach Wayne Pivac adamant his selection is genuine.
Both Ali and Bryce Williams measure over 2m, and their aerial work in the lineouts was a significant factor in Auckland's strong start last week against
Otago.
They were initially bracketed for that game, but both started when Bradley Mika was put on the bench.
Pivac said the Williams pair would be his starting locks for Friday's final qualifying match.
"The big key is going to be possession, so we will start with the lineout men.
"There is no funny business. That is our intention."
Pivac has made two alterations for this vital match. Blindside flanker Justin Collins has replaced the impressive Angus MacDonald and halfback Steve Devine comes in for the newly transferred David Gibson.
Both changes were made to restore senior players who were rested from the Otago match.
The only absentee from yesterday's training was prop Nick White, who was guarding some bruising.
The reserves will be named today, but it seems veteran Eroni Clarke has still not recovered from a knee problem.
Auckland are in fourth place on the table, with Otago a point ahead of them and Wellington a point adrift.
Discarded Auckland five-eighths James Arlidge has been released to play for Northland against Southland in a match they need to win to fight off relegation.
Arlidge will play for Auckland B against Wellington B on Friday night, then fly to Invercargill to join his former team-mates for Sunday's final round-robin match.
It is the latest twist to a season that started with Arlidge playing for Auckland before he was cut after the opening loss to Taranaki.
"Provided he fulfils his B commitments and there aren't any injuries which require him back for us, James is free to go," said Auckland chief executive David White.
Arlidge trained with Northland last night and although he will probably start from the bench, he is expected to figure prominently in the match.
The 23-year-old was loaned to Northland last season, but that arrangement was not repeated by the round-four cutoff date this season.
Another regulation allows an injured loan player to be replaced by another loan player.
That applied to Northland five-eighths Regan Finch, who has a serious elbow injury and is being replaced by Arlidge.
NPC schedule/scoreboard