Three locals with Heart

RAKE POSITION: Wanganui's Cole Baldwin will start at hooker for the New Zealand Heartland XV this afternoon against New Zealand Marist in Albany.PHOTO/FILE 041014WCLGRUGBY2

Steelform Wanganui hooker Cole Baldwin will get the starting rake position in his return to the New Zealand Heartland XV for their game with New Zealand Marist this afternoon in Albany.

All three Wanganui players feature in the 22-man squad for the first game for the Heartland side, which serves as a warm-up before their two-match tour of the Cook Islands, November 11-14 in Rarotonga.

Peter Rowe will again captain the side from flanker, while Lasa Ulukuta will come off the bench.

Mid Canterbury hooker Jon Sharpe was ruled out with injury, so Baldwin will start at hooker with Thames Valley's Blake Hill added to the team on the reserves.

It is Baldwin's second stint with the New Zealand's amateur representative team, having been selected in 2009-11.

While the side has plenty of proven leaders with provincial captains Jon Dampney (Mid Canterbury) and Josh Clark (North Otago) in the loose forwards, Heartland coach Kurt McQuilkin said the retention of Rowe in the role was "a bit of a no-brainer".

"He's a guy I've got a lot of respect for as a player and a man. He's a natural leader, and the guys all feel the same."

Rowe has captained the team since 2012.

As well as Sharpe, loose forward Gary Redmond (Mid Canterbury) and outside back Michael Tambour (Horowhenua-Kapiti) are being rested to get over niggles before the Cook Island games, meaning today's line-up is experimental.

"We're just trying a few things out before the first game in the islands. Just see how they handle the first-up run," said McQuilkin.

Today's game will be for the Ian MacRae Cup, which was presented for the first time last year when the Heartland team beat Marist 25-12 at Timaru's Alpine Energy Stadium.

Kick-off is at 2.30pm at the North Harbour Marist club in Albany.