Wanganui face the best from the Bush

Wanganui's import centre Blake Hohaia, left, will have the biggest challenge of his young career, marking former All Black Zac Guildford in tomorrow's Meads Cup semifinal at Cooks Gardens.

Here is the quintessential question: can the defending Mitre 10 Heartland champion team beat the team with an All Black champion?

Undefeated Steelform Wanganui can have no illusions of the tough task posed by fourth-placed Wairarapa Bush and their favourite son Zac Guildford in tomorrow's Meads Cup semifinal at Cooks Gardens.

Leaving aside the 10-test All Black for a moment, as if that was possible given his story of moving back to Featherston to put his damaged career back on track was doing the rounds again this week on TV3's Story programme, the Bush will bring a squad into the playoff who are in good form and confident.

They are suitably reinforced for the outfit that Wanganui defeated 40-22 at Spriggens Park in preseason, at a time when the hosts were in top form after a series of high level games including the Ranfurly Shield challenge, whereas Guildford had yet to arrive and other Bush standouts like fullback Sam Monaghan had not settled into the team.

Similar to Wanganui's injury worries over the past few weeks, Wairarapa Bush have been sweating on their workhorse lock James Goodger and veteran first-five Tim Priest coming through fitness tests this week, given both men are big-game players.

Hooker Richard Puddy knew he would have to prepare for a big match with his reserve backup Abe Haira awaiting a final decision on a suspension following a red card against East Coast last weekend.

Another import in Tasman's Iziq Foa'i partners Guildford in the midfield, and only players of their stature could keep a local star like Andy Humberston on the bench.

Facing them will be Wanganui's combination of Kameli Kuruyabaki, who has been icing his ankle since rolling it last Saturday against Horowhenua-Kapiti, and Taranaki import Blake Hohaia, who scored two tries while giving one away in a defensive lapse.

"It would be exciting for some young guys to test themselves against that calibre," said Wanganui coach Jason Caskey.

Given the Meads Cup final will be televised live on Sky TV, it is no secret Guildford will also be eager to show what he can still offer the professional game, as Caskey wirily noted if he would "pull your head in and someone might be interested".

With giant lock Gavin Thornbury back on deck, Caskey was crossing fingers that prop Viki Tofa's ankle would come through the Thursday fitness test, with Hamish Mellow bracketed to start while Gabriel Hakaraia remains on standby.

Otherwise, it remains a settled team with Michael Nabuliwaqe coming back onto the wing and Samu Kubunavanua taking the bench spot.

Caskey fully expects a step up in intensity from last weekend, given his team were already thinking about this game then.

But perhaps the biggest test will be making sure they execute down the crucial final stretch.

After such a great preseason, Wanganui did show in some messy Heartland games that maintaining momentum in the second half was an issue after good starts, and Wairarapa Bush are experts at coming from behind.

"Ideally, you'd always like to be in a position where you've got the lead, but it's not always a good thing either," Caskey said.

"[Wairarapa] got a good lineout and a good set piece, so they're going to have plenty of time with the ball.

"It's a little different when we're playing a team without a good set piece...your job's half done."

So after being a little reckless against Horowhenua-Kapiti, expect Wanganui to be led by their halves in Lindsay Horrocks and Craig Campbell, specifically by bringing kicking for territory back into vogue, because even though tries are worth six points and penalties only two, any kind of scoring could prove decisive.

"You don't want to play too much in your own area," said Caskey.

"Semifinals, things change, you don't have to look for bonus points."

Wairarapa Bush proved they did not need to mount big scorelines in order to win games this season.

Their only defeats were narrow home losses which slipped away against King Country (18-16) and Buller (26-24).

They were victorious over Horowhenua-Kapiti (32-22), Mid Canterbury (26-16), Thames Valley (28-18), North Otago (38-22), Poverty Bay (32-30) and East Coast (44-22).

Kickoff is at 2.30pm.

The teams are

Wanganui
1. Tietie Tuimauga; 2. Roman Tutauha; 3. Viki Tofa/Hamish Mellow; 4. Sam Madams; 5. Gavin Thornbury; 6. Campbell Hart; 7. Peter Rowe; 8. Malaki Volau; 9. Lindsay Horrocks; 10. Craig Clare; 11. Michael Nabuliwaqe; 12. Kameli Kuruyabaki; 13. Blake Hohaia; 14. Te Rangatira Waitokia; 15. Ace Malo.
Reserves - Forwards: 16. Cole Baldwin; 17. Hamish Mellow/Gabriel Hakaraia; 18. Bryn Hudson; 19. Jamie Hughes. Backs: 20. Kane Tamou; 21. Dane Whale; 22. Samu Kubunavanua.

Wairarapa Bush
1. Matt Kawana; 2. Richard Puddy; 3. Stan Wright; 4. James Goodger; 5. Andrew McLean; 6. Sam Gammie; 7. Eddie Cranston; 8. Brendan Campbell; 9. Inia Katia; 10. Tim Priest; 11. Glen Walters; 12. Iziq Foa'i; 13. Zac Guildford; 14. Cameron Hayton., 15. Sam Monaghan.
Reserves - Forwards: 16. Abe Haira; 17. Nick Hohepa; 18. Andrew Smith; 19. Liam Devine. Backs: 20. Daryl Pickering; 21. Andy Humberston; 22. Robbie Anderson.