ITM Cup: Thomas confident Bay can 'tip' his old team

New Steamers winger Dave Thomas. Photo / Andrew Warner

When Dave Thomas walks down the tunnel towards the changing rooms at Eden Park tomorrow he will turn towards the visitors changing room for the first time.

The born-and-bred Aucklander will start at fullback against his old team and would love to help the Steamers win at Eden Park for the first time since that famous day in 2004 when they came home with the Ranfurly Shield.

"I have never even been inside the away dressing room so it is going to be a unique experience," said Thomas. "The second I signed with the Bay I immediately went on line and had a look when they were playing Auckland. It is a date that has been marked in my diary and something that I have been looking forward to since I moved here.

"It will be a big challenge - that's no secret - but it is something we can definitely step up to. I honestly believe that we can tip them." The 24-year-old Thomas would have played many more than 34 games for the blue-and-whites had it not been for a dreadfully unlucky run of injuries that have blighted the talented player's career.

After starring in the Auckland Grammar First XV and Auckland age group sides, Thomas captured the attention of coach Graham Henry when he cut the All Blacks defence to pieces in a standout performance for the NZ Barbarians in 2008.

But Auckland's loss is Bay of Plenty's gain and the call to join the Steamers came out of the blue for Thomas after he thought he would miss the ITM Cup season with a shoulder issue that turned out to be minor.

"I was off contract with Auckland and they had already named their team thinking I was out for the season, so I was going to play for the Bs when Bay of Plenty got wind of it somehow and gave me a call. I thought why not," said Thomas.

"It was a bit of a weird situation to be in and I didn't know quite what to expect. This is my first time living out of Auckland. It is not a bad place to come!"

Thomas played half a game for the Steamers against Otago and the entire 80 minutes in last Sunday's pulsating win over Hawke's Bay.

"It was good to get the first win and get the monkey off our back and experience what it meant to the public and the union, especially with it being the battle of the Bays and extra passion to the game," Thomas said.

"Experiencing that winning feeling in the changing room with the boys was great and brought us closer as well."