Towering lock Gavin Thornbury will hopefully be an asset to the Steelform Wanganui team in their Ranfurly Shield challenge next month.
It will likely be an all-local Steelform Wanganui team which gets the honour of challenging for the Ranfurly Shield against Waikato in a fortnight after coach Jason Caskey announced his 26-man squad late on Sunday.
Dealing with a couple of key injuries coming out of an exciting club finals day at Cooks Gardens, Caskey will still look at bolstering the team with a couple of imports for the start of the Mitre 10 Heartland Championship on August 27, with the permanent squad not announced until after the Shield game in Hamilton on August 8.
But Caskey is confident there is enough balance across the current squad to go ahead and reward players who have fronted for the local club season.
"They've got a chance to do it, otherwise we may have to look at a couple of other options, but the idea is always to give local guys an opportunity."
The likes of Ruapehu's playmaker Craig Clare, along with Border's towering Irish lock Gavin Thornbury and powerful prop Tietie Tuimauga may have only joined the club scene during the second round, but they are registered as local talent.
The squad trains tonight and Thursday to get ready for this weekend's warm up game against Taranaki B in Hawera.
Not amongst them will be Border fullback Nick Harding and Ngamatapouri No8 Bryn Hudson due to their hamstring issues - Harding's ongoing while Hudson did damage behind his knee in the Senior final.
In addition, while dynamic Taihape No8 Tremaine Gilbert has also been named in the team as deserved, he will undergo a concussion test when he joins them on Thursday to assess the damage from Saturday's Premier final, with Caskey unwilling to take a chance on him in these next two games.
Gilbert played on in Saturday's final when told by the referee he would have to be permanently subbed because concussion tests are not used in club games - a decision which touched off considerable debate on the sidelines with WRFU officials.
"Where we were sitting and saw him go down, I wouldn't feel comfortable playing him at this stage," said Caskey.
"He probably won't like it but I'm not prepared to risk people's safety."
This ethos reflects the current trend to treat head injuries much more cautiously after recent reports of veteran players suffering long term health effects.
"Time's change, and for the good too."
The champions Border and the veterans of Ruapehu dominant the forward pack, with Ruapehu's Campbell Hart likely to be used as a floater between the loosies and as back up lock to Gavin Thornbury and Sam Madams - the duo role that Fraser Hammond performed last season.
In the backline, veteran Ace Malo has been named but is also likely unavailable for the next two games as he has returned to Samoa after his mother passed away.
It leaves Wanganui a little brittle out wide with promising Metro Colts bolter Te Rangatira Waitokia the other fullback, along with an inexperienced midfield in Kaveni Dabenaise, Kameli Kuruyabaki, and Cyrus Paringatai.
"It gives [Waitokia] an opportunity, but there's also Michael [Nabuliwaqe] who can play there and Craig Clare - it's probably his preferred position," said Caskey.
The versatility of the former Highlander Clare will be crucial for Caskey, because while he is named as the first-five, the team may yet use the veteran as the No15 or perhaps shift him out to second-five to partner Dane Whale.
"Craig's got the ability to play anywhere in the backline and he's pretty happy to be there.
"For the good of the team, he can fill a role we might need him."
Saturday will also be the chance to again get familiar with the trial rules which will be in place for the Heartland Championship, which two thirds of the current team first experienced during the June 22 game with the Manawatu Evergreens in Palmerston North.
The Wanganui Development team under coach Ross Williams has also been named and will play a warmup fixture in Hawera, with Caskey keeping an eye on them as players like front rower Jack Yarrall remain very much in his wider squad plans.
The Steelform Wanganui team is:
Forwards - Props: Viki Tofa (Marist); Hamish Mellow (Border); Tietie Tuimauga (Border); Karl Parker (Ruapehu). Hookers: Roman Tutauha (Ruapehu); Cole Baldwin (Border). Locks: Sam Madams (Border); Gavin Thornbury (Border); Campbell Hart (Ruapehu). Loose forwards: Malakai Volou (Ngamatapouri); Tremaine Gilbert (Taihape); Jamie Hughes (Ruapehu); Peter Rowe (Ruapehu); Renato Tikoisolomone (Border).
Backs - Halfbacks: Kane Tamou (Ratana); Lindsay Horrocks (Border). First-fives: Dane Whale (Taihape); Craig Clare (Ruapehu). Centres: Kaveni Dabenaise (Border); Kameli Kuruyabaki (Kaierau); Cyrus Paringatai (Taihape). Wingers: Samu Kubunavanua (Ngamatapouri); Michael Nabuliwaqe (Ngamatapouri); Simon Dibben (Marist). Fullbacks: Te Rangatira Waitokia (Metro Colts); Ace Malo (Kaieraui).
Not considered due to injury: Nick Harding (Border); Bryn Hudson (Ngamatapouri).