Northland 'in with a chance'

The mood was noticeably light-hearted at training yesterday ahead of Northland's biggest challenge of the season against Canterbury on Saturday - with the famous Ranfurly Shield on the line.
The TAB  has written the Taniwha off as no-hopers for the match, offering $7 for a Northland win, with Air New Zealand Cup leaders Canterbury paying just $1.07.
Few would argue with the odds, including Northland's coach Bryce Woodward, but like any week he is preparing his team to win.
"I can't imagine Canterbury being anything but the hottest of favourites and it doesn't upset us because that's probably a fair reflection on the season to date," he said.
Woodward has identified three areas that the Taniwha need to improve, if they want to threaten Canterbury's shield defence. The first is containment of Canterbury's wide attack, which was clearly exposed as a problem area against Counties two weeks ago.
"We need to compete at the set-pieces to get our fair share of the ball and, when we do go into phase play, we need to be as patient as we were against Manawatu," Woodward said.
"The gap between the two teams isn't that great and if we can do those three things then we will be in the game ...  we're not underestimating the challenge, it's the biggest we've had this year."
Woodward is relying on some momentum building after Sunday's victory over Manawatu, with a limited amount of practice possible this week, because of a short turnaround between the games.
He said that there would be no lack of enthusiasm and excitement within the squad for the game. "I think what the shield does is it allows the players to get excited about the game without the coaching staff coming up with the motivation for the team," he said.
Expect big performances from Bronson Murray and skipper Jared Payne, who both return to Christchurch with one eye on their Crusaders contracts for next season. Woodward has named a virtually unchanged side from last week, with Australian Pat O'Connor edging Junior Gadolo off the bench, for what could be his first appearance for the Taniwha, after a horror run with injury.
  Northland: Jared Payne (captain), Simon Munro, Damian Fakafanua, Derek Carpenter, Rene Ranger, Lachie Munro, Rhyan Caine, Cameron Eyre, Joel McKenty, Roy Griffin, Cam Jowitt, Daniel Goodwin, Karl Haitana, Mikaele Tuu'u, Bronson Murray. Reserves: Tim Dow, Matt Wallis, Pat O'Connor, Matt Clutterbuck, Luke Hamilton, David Holwell, Jon Elrick.