Coach puts faith in training as final pre-season battle unfolds

Northland coach Bryce Woodward is expecting that a week's extra training will pay dividends for the Taniwha when they run out for their final pre-season match at Growers Stadium in Pukekohe tonight.
"We're hoping the standard will improve quite a bit from the first match (at Kaikohe last week) particularly at the breakdown and for option taking in the backline," he said.
Woodward said the team showed plenty of endeavour against North Harbour at Kaikohe, but weren't always accurate and improvements are expected tonight against the Counties-Manukau Steelers.
"Our accuracy at the breakdown wasn't quite as good as our first impressions once we'd analysed it and our backline attacking alignment needs adjustment," he said.
Woodward said there were a few adjustments to be made after reviewing the tape of the match. The scrum was awarded a pass mark at Kaikohe but the lineout would be under closer scrutiny after squandering ball in the match.
The match will give the team a further chance to get used to play together in competitive competition but isn't being viewed as a final trial.
"These two games were identified as warm-up games and not trial games, because we had our trial earlier in the season, so we're treating them as a warm-up except where there is close competition (for places)," Woodward said.
He identified two positions where the starting line-up has yet to be settled. The first is halfback - between Rhyan Caine and Luke Hamilton - and the second debate is over hooker, between Tim Dow and Mikaele Tu'u'u. Caine and Dow start tonight after the other two started last Wednesday.
Bronson Murray is set to return into the squad after overcoming recent injury problems. Justin Collins, Nick Collins and Roy Griffen are still sidelined with injury and new lock Pat O'Connor is also unavailable with a neck injury.
The other new locking addition, Cameron Jowitt, will begin contact training next week and is hopeful of making the season opener in Rotorua next week.
The match starts at 7.30pm.
Starting line-up: Bronson Murray, Tim Dow, Karl Haitana, Dan Goodwin, Steve Baker, Junior Gadolo, Matt Clutterbuck, Cameron Eyre, Rhyan Caine, Lachie Munro, Rene Ranger, Derek Carpenter, Sione Fonua, Troy Woodman, Jared Payne. Bench: Luke Hamilton, Jon Elrick, Mikaele Tu'u'u, Joel McKenty, Damien Fakafanua, Justin Davies, Matt Harrison, Joel McKenty, Brook Gilmore, Matt Wallis.