Rugby: Canes have artillery to battle past southerners

The return of All Black Beauden Barrett from injury will give the Canes some classy game management skills. Photo / File

The heart says Highlanders but the brain says Hurricanes ... by 11 points.

Naturally as a Hawke's Bay fan one would barrack for the Highlanders tonight in the wake of "visiting team" head coach Jamie Joseph's decision to start all five of his Magpies - hooker Ash Dixon, who will be captain, prop Brendon Edmonds, blindside flanker Gareth Evans, second five-eighth Richard Buckman and winger Ryan Tongia. But the Hurricanes are too good a side this season to lose two consecutive matches.

The return of All Black Beauden Barrett from injury will give the Canes some classy game management skills. The fact he won't be goalkicking is one of the reasons the Highlanders will keep within 11 points.

Expect the in-form Highlanders pivot Lima Sopoaga to have the best goalkicking percentage tonight. However Joseph's decision to rest his three All Blacks, fullback Ben Smith, halfback Aaron Smith and centre Malakai Fekitoa, means Sopoaga is unlikely to have too many conversion attempts.

Consistent Canes captain and All Black centre Conrad Smith will rule the midfield even without his regular partner Ma'a Nonu. Smith has never had a bad game at McLean Park.

With former Magpies prop Ben Franks, fellow All Black, hooker Dane Coles, and Reggie Goodes the Canes should gain the upper hand in the battle of the frontrows. But in saying that, the tussle between Franks and Edmonds at scrum time will be a beauty.

The Canes boast the superior locks, both with their starters Jeremy Thrush and James Broadhurst and substitute, Magpie Mark Abbott. The Hurricanes loose trio of No8 Victor Vito and flankers Blade Thomson and Ardie Savea have had more game time together than the Highlanders' Evans, John Hardie and Elliot Dixon.

But that's one of the attractions of this Super Rugby comp. We often see the underdogs upstage the players with the bigger reputations and Evans will relish the opportunity to enhance his reputation on "home turf".

Because the Canes forwards should have the slight upper hand, halfback TJ Perenara and Barrett should be able to operate better than the Highlanders' inside-back pair of halfback Fumiaki Tanaka and Sopoaga.

Providing the weather conditions allow it, the battle of the wing combos - Tongia will be up against the equally exciting Nehe Milner-Skudder, and All Black Julian Savea will be up against in-form Highlander Waisake Naholo - will be worth the price of admission alone.

The Hurricanes boast a bit more depth on the pine. However, Northland flanker Dan Pryor is never short of enthusiasm when he takes the field for the Highlanders and former All Black Sevens rep Kurt Baker will be keen to make the most of his second appearance of the season.

It's no secret the Hurricanes are seeking a better kicking game than was displayed in the loss to the Crusaders. Barrett should provide some improvement.

Don't expect to see a repeat of the soft tries conceded against the Crusaders.

Lineouts are another area which the Hurricanes have focused on after last week.

Providing they don't over-complicate things, they shouldn't lose too many against the throw.