Northland coach Adriaan Ferris said tomorrow's match against the Bay of Plenty will be "season-defining" for the Taniwha.
Ferris said it was back to the wall stuff for the team and win was required if they want to keep their championship hopes alive.
"We've done well in parts this year but it all will count for nothing if we can't get across the line on Sunday," he said.
The team's personnel have been stretched to the limit with injuries to key players but Ferris said the Steamers will be in a similar position with both teams playing midweek matches.
Both teams are desperate for points in their respective competitions after back-to-back losses and Ferris is expecting another exciting match.
"We're expecting them to come at us hard, so it will be another torrid encounter with high intensity and whoever turns up to play and handles the pressure the best will take the points," he predicted.
The coach said they needed to absorb pressure from the high-scoring Steamers more clinically without adding to the pressure by making unnecessary errors - as they did for too much of the match against Southland.
Injury has hit the team hard with several changes from the team that went down 12-16 to Southland on Wednesday. With co-captain Bryce Williams back in Whangarei getting an opinion on his strained Achilles, Otamatea lock David Morgan gets his first cap
The front row has a solid look to it with Justin Davies switching to loosehead partnering Scott Vessey on the tighthead side with Ross Wright the starting hooker. Morgan teams up with Hale T-Pole in the second row, while Jam Ram starts at blindside for the first time with Matt Prior on the openside and William Whetton at No 8 giving the pack some extra mobility that will come in handy against the Steamers.
The biggest positional change is Rene Ranger's move into second-five eighth. While it will please many fans to see the potent co-captain get the ball more, the absence of the exceptional Derek Carpenter will be felt. Like Cam Goodhue with his injured wrist, Carpenter spent yesterday getting x-rays to see if his clavicle is broken.
Faatoina Autagavaia moves into centre and may just benefit from the opportunities Ranger gives him. The coach said the Taniwha will have to take their chances when they're on offer rather than squandering them as they have all too often in the season to date.
Northland: 1 Justin Davies 2 Ross Wright 3 Scott Vessey 4 Hale T-Pole 5 David Morgan 6 Jack Ram 7 Dan Prior 8 Will Whetton 9 Samisoni Fisilau 10 Ash Moeke 11 Mateo Malupo 12 Rene Ranger 13 Faatoina Autagavaia 14 Dan Caprice 15 Eddie Paea. Reserves: 16 David Hall 17 Pene Kaufusi 18 Jack Whetton 19 Dan Faleafa 20 Rhyan Caine 21 Orene Ai'i 22 Matt Wright.
