Hockey: Hikurangi eye first defeat of fierce rival

Hikurangi are backing themselves to beat Maungakaramea for the first time this season but their opposition are well aware of the challenge as premier grade hockey finals action gets under way on Saturday.

Third-placed Maungakaramea have two wins over Hikurangi this season but are well aware that the two teams drew 1-1 at their last encounter and that the result could easily have gone against them.

"Hikurangi are improving every game and we know they'll be a tough team to break down this week, so it's going to be a great game," Maungakaramea captain Stephanie Hudson said.

Hudson is sidelined for the rest of the season with an ankle injury but said apart from a couple of niggling injuries and the absence of Sammy Wasson, the side is near full strength for the game.

Hikurangi's Jo McQueen said her side is missing one of their form players Jessica Heywood - like Wasson away with the Northland U-18s in Palmerston North - but will also miss the experience of the U-18 coach Meredith McInnes.

She said the side was still confident they can beat Maungakaramea for the first time this season.

"We've been pushing for a win in the last couple of games and to be honest I'm expecting a win and will be very upset if we don't get one," she said.

McQueen said they've slowly been coming together as a team and although they have struggled all season when playing leaders Springfield, they have been very competitive with all the other teams.

The match is only one of two matches going ahead in the men's and women's premier grade on Saturday with the three other matches postponed with dispensation given to teams missing three or more players at the national U-18 tournaments currently under way.

The first-sixth playoff between Springfield and Kamo High School and the second-fourth playoff between Old Girls and Whangarei Girls High School will be played on Monday evening.

The three winners plus the highest ranked loser will proceed to next weekend's semifinals.

Similarly, the first-second place playoff between Springfield and Maungakaramea will be delayed until Tuesday with Springfield, in particular, hit hard by representative absences.

The third and fourth place playoff between Bream Bay and Mangapai, with the winner going through to meet the loser of the other match, is another tough match to pick.

After a dismal start to the season Mangapai have improved markedly in the run up to the finals and are hoping to repeat last weekend's 2-0 victory over Bream Bay when they play at 3.20pm on Saturday.