Daunting task ahead for Hikurangi in play-off hunt

Tomorrow is crunch time for Southern Districts premier rugby teams hoping to to make the semifinals in a little over a month.
As the top teams jockey for position on the table, Hikurangi in sixth place, need to break a three-match losing streak against champions Hora Hora just to remain in contention
"It's definitely make or break for us this weekend. If we lose we're gone but we'll have our hands full regardless with Hora Hora and we'll have to find a lot more to throw at them than we did against Marist last week," Hikurangi coach Stu Cook said.
It has been a rapid turnaround for the black and reds, after they were equal top of the table at the halfway point of the competition, just four weeks ago.
Hikurangi need to snap  their losing streak if they are to feature in the semifinals but recent home form against Hora Hora isn't encouraging.
"They've beaten us at home the last three times I think, so they'll be confident coming here. It's up to us. We've got to step up hard and turn around our loss of form."
Injuries have plagued the team all season but Cook said at least the players should be used to playing out of position.
Loose forward Aaron Wright returns to the team but Eric Abraham was injured last week against Marist and may miss the game.
First five-eighth Cass Walding played a full match in Tuesday night's Northland trial and is expected to be back running the backline.
The lack of specialist locks has been the biggest problem for Cook but at least the return of former Taniwha hooker Tim Dow - back from Italy - is a bright spot for the coach. Jared Payne is back in Whangarei but is still not fully recovered from an injury sustained during the Super 14 season, while the whereabouts of Crusaders' teammate Bronson Murray remains a question mark.
"Jared can't play until he's been okayed by the Northland physio but no one's seen Bronson yet - he wasn't at the trial on Tuesday night - and I don't think Bryce [Woodward, Northland coach] has heard from him either," he said.
Hora Hora assistant coach Karl Milne said Rukawai Waata is the only injury concern for the champions after he was forced to miss the Northland trial.
Wellsford are another team struggling with a mounting injury toll and they host Mid Western, knowing that a loss will  dent their chances of a home semifinal.
Two of their representative prospects, Johnny Moimoi and JoJo Ranger, will miss tomorrow's game after picking up injuries at Tuesday's trial. But at least Matt Wright came through the match with flying colours after being rested last week as a precaution and is a welcome addition to the depleted backline.
Mid Western captain Adam Clarke - incorrectly described in Wednesday's Advocate as Western Force development team player when, in fact, he was Matt Henjak's back-up in the senior side - said every match was vital in the race to the play-offs.
"Ideally, we'd like to meet them at full strength as we did last time but, at this time of year, we'll take any win we can get," he said.
Leaders Mid Northern will need to have their wits about them against Old Boys, while Marist will be aiming for two in a row against Waipu at Kensington Park and Western Sharks chase the double over Kamo at Kamo.