Vastly different rewards on offer at the Bullring

Counties Manukau and Taranaki are desperate for a win in New Plymouth tonight for different reasons.

Counties need to move clear of the relegation zone and Taranaki need a victory and bonus point to keep their top-four hopes alive.

"They [Counties] have got their backs to the wall," Taranaki coach Colin Cooper said, "but so have we. We have to win to stay alive, with two difficult away games to come [Canterbury and Otago]."

Taranaki go into the match in seventh place on 15 points and will jump to fifth if Waikato and Canterbury win.

Counties Manukau sit third from bottom on seven points, with Southland (6) and Bay of Plenty (5) below them.

And with those two sides meeting tomorrow in Invercargill, Counties will be overtaken by one if they fail to pick up points in New Plymouth.

Cooper said he was wary of a Counties Manukau side who tested Canterbury last Sunday before losing 42-17.

"They've got some dangerous attacking players. We're wary of them, but we've worked hard on our game this week.

"Our finishing off has to be more accurate."

The Taranaki players have an added incentive to perform in their final home game of the season.

"It's the last match before the redevelopment work begins at [Rugby Park]," Cooper said. "The players know about that and they will come out with a bit of fire."

Counties Manukau dangermen in the backline are inside backs Danny Lee and Loki Crichton, who call the shots.

Crichton, in particular, is an attacking player who can spark moves from anywhere and Taranaki will need to shut him off.

Out wide, centre Casey Laulala, one of the stars of the New Zealand under-19 side, is an exciting talent and his battle with Bryce Robins could be one of the highlights of the match.

The Counties Manukau pack can expect a torrid time from the home side.

But with players such as Kristian Ormsby, Ramon Lindsay and Hare Makiri, Counties should win a steady supply of lineout ball.

- NZPA