Lights on in Waverley

Having played in the Manawatu, Ngamatapouri's Jim Seruwalu will be among the few in his team who have experience playing under lights, as his team travel down to meet Border this evening.

The first chapter in Tasman Tanning Premier's newest derby clash will be written via reading lamp this evening as Settler's Honey Ngamatapouri journey down from the valley to Dallison Park.

Last year's Senior champions will find their South Taranaki neighbours and defending Premier champions Border eager to maintain their imposing record in the annual night fixture - the unique floodlight game held so the locals can go duck shooting tomorrow.

Having worked themselves up into playoff contention with three straight wins, Ngamatapouri are aware that Border are twilight experts - having had handy victories in the night match in recent years over Wanganui Car Centre Kaierau (twice) and Speirs Food Marton, while pouncing on Dave Hoskin Carriers Marist mistakes last year to win 26-17.

The Waverley team's tactical nous for night rugby is not about displaying innovation in the dark, but always swarming instantly on their opposition's mistake - no matter where they lose the ball on the field, visitors have to be prepared to immediately defend their own 22m zone.

"We gathered that [tactic], they're pretty good out wide, the wings are pretty lethal," said Ngamatapouri coach Richard Carston.

"I'll back our team to counteract that."

Keeping line of sight on the kicked ball and being prepared for a little extra dew when putting it through the hands are other added challenges requiring adjustment from playing in daylight hours.

The visitors most experienced players in that regard will be Jim Seruwalu and Samu Kubunavanua, who have played at higher levels, as well as former Highlanders prop Clint Newland, who will finally take the field this season after previous work commitments.

Newland's return should add some muscle up front and will be sorely needed as Ngamatapouri have lost their No8 and captain Bryn Hudson for four weeks after rolling his ankle in the win over Harvey Round Motors Ratana last Saturday.

It is the second skipper to go down for the valley team with Reid Belton still on the sidelines.

"Border's unbeaten and we've been going not too bad lately, although we're still short in the forward pack," said Carston.

A number of derby games in Wanganui rugby have an added spice to them, like the Memorial Park battle between PGG Wrightson/Balance Taihape and Utiku Old Boys, or the cross-town rivalry between Kaierau and Black Bull Liquor Pirates.

While there's still about a 55 minute drive between them, Carston acknowledged the battle of the South Taranaki clubs could well take on added significance in coming seasons.

"Border and Ngamat have always had a bit of a thing going on," he said.

"As far as we're concerned, they are the team to beat. This is the big game.

"They're the defending champs and we're the champs stepping up from Senior.

"We'll turn up and see how they go, and get a measure of them for the second round."

Border will be very confident after disposing of Taihape last weekend, with centre Kaveni Dabonaise running rampant with three ties, while outside backs like Nick Harding, Isaiah Hooper and former Collegiate track star Harry Symes continue to prosper from the good service their forwards provide.

Kickoff is 7pm for the main game, with a scheduled curtain raiser of the Border seniors taking on Counties at 5.30pm.

In the big match on Saturday, both Taihape and Marist have it all to play for when they meet at Memorial Park.

Coming off losses to leading teams Border and McCarthy's Transport Ruapehu respectively, the team beaten tomorrow is likely to drop out of the Top 4 with one weekend remaining in the opening round, with this being Taihape's last match before the bye.

Ruapehu will want to keep their momentum going and keep tabs on Border when they host Kaierau at Rochfort Park - with Kaierau's opening weekend win over Ngamatapouri now seeming a long time ago.

Coming off the bye, Pirates will be keen to get back into the Top 4 when they head to the Pa to meet winless Ratana.