After the major opening round ITM Cup upset in Nelson on Friday night there will be spotlights on the performances of both Canterbury and Tasman this week.
Canterbury, rocked 25-22 by the Tasman Makos, host Auckland tomorrow while the Makos pose a threat to Taranaki's hold on the Ranfurly Shield at New Plymouth on Saturday night.
Chasing a fifth successive national title, Canterbury looked set to open the 2012 campaign with a tight win over the Makos until replacement back Kieron Fonotia stepped his way to score under the posts and give Tasman, last year's "wooden spooners," an unexpected victory.
Canterbury will host North Harbour on Saturday afternoon, with All Black member Wyatt Crockett available.
Tasman, despite scalping Canterbury, will find Taranaki a tough proposition in New Plymouth after the amber and blacks beat Bay of Plenty 37-22 in Mt. Maunganui last Saturday with former Wanganui winger Waisake Naholo scoring one of his side's four tries.
All Black front rower Andrew Hore is available for Taranaki.
Wellington, who opened with a 30-11 away win over the Manawatu Turbos, will have All Blacks Julian Savea and Victor Vito available for tonight's home clash with Hawke's Bay and on Saturday host Southland.
And the Magpies also have another tough test on Saturday night in Napier, trying to contain a lively Counties-Manukau side that beat Southland 30-9 on Sunday.
On Thursday night four All Black squad members are available for the Bay of Plenty (Sam Cane and Brodie Retallick) v Otago (Tamati Ellison and Adam Thomson) match in Rotorua.
After a spirited away encounter against Otago, finally beaten 34-46 despite picking up four tries, Northland is away again on Saturday - against Waikato who opened with a 42-22 win over North Harbour.
Current ITM points, Premier: Waikato and Taranaki 5, Wellington and Auckland 4, Canterbury and Hawke's Bay 1, Bay of Plenty 0.
Championship: Counties-Manukau and Otago 5, Tasman 4, Northland 1, Manawatu, North Harbour and Southland 0.
Steelform Wanganui opened the Meads Cup defence with a deserved but closely-contested 24-23 away win over a sound Mid Canterbury side last weekend and will be after a maximum five-pointer against Horowhenua-Kapiti at Cooks Gardens on Saturday.
Last year's finalists, East Coast, had to work hard for a 23-16 home win over West Coast and will find South Canterbury also difficult in Timaru.
Poverty Bay, the 2011 Lochore Cup champions, head the Heartland table on points differential after disposing of Horowhenua-Kapiti 31-15 last weekend and will be hoping to avenge a pre-season 46-14 hiding when Wairarapa-Bush visits Gisborne on Saturday.
Although Wairarapa started the 2012 championship by beating South Canterbury 32-21 the side was out-scored three tries to two and it was left to Glenn Waitere, who kicked 22 points, to win the game. King Country, who gave North Otago a hurry-along before losing 30-31 in Te Kuiti, play West Coast (beaten 26-23 by East Coast) in Greymouth.
Mid Canterbury is away to Thames Valley while Buller, who beat Valley 24-14 in Westport, takes on North Otago in Oamaru.
Current Heartland points: Poverty Bay and North Otago 5, Wanganui, Wairarapa-Bush, Buller and East Coast 4, Mid Canterbury, King Country and West Coast 1, Thames Valley, South Canterbury and Horowhenua-Kapiti 0.