RUGBY - Marist gamble on Goodwin for Cup

Marist are hoping Northland rugby lock Dan Goodwin will make a sudden return for a double header weekend of action in the Joe Morgan Memorial club rugby competition starting tomorrow.
But the will-he or won't-he wait for Goodwin is taking a back seat for Marist coach Adriaan Ferris who is trying hard to get more of his team into the representative selection frame.
"I have heard that Dan Goodwin is back in the country but have no real idea if he will be available for us this weekend or not. To be honest I am not looking forward to this weekend, we have Hikurangi tomorrow then Hora Hora on Monday, that's two very competitive games in three days," Ferris said.
Marist are the championship leaders, and head into the second round of the series primed with confidence.
Ferris is hoping their status at the top of the rankings will result in a reward, or two, when the Northland squad is named.
But his wait may be in vain, as while players in the Joe Morgan Memorial championship are slugging it out, there are plans cooking to try and get another clique of Auckland players into the Northland team on-loan.
Reinforcements are needed at tighthead prop, halfback and in the midfield and negotiations with Auckland coach Pat Lam are already underway to try and secure some players.
Tavita Mailau, the tighthead prop who was loaned to Northland last year, is back in the mix and Grayson Hart, a New Zealand Colt from Auckland, is now being mentioned as a possible back up halfback.
But until delicate negotiations with Auckland are complete, the door is still open for some local club players to try and push for Northland honours, a factor that Ferris says is helping keep his squad motivated.
Ferris said several of his squad came north with the intention of hunting down a representative jersey and still have the scent in their nostrils.
"I am quite pleased with the attitude of our guys, they all know they have to perform in club to get a chance and hopefully some of them will get a shot in the trial games to get that chance," he said.
The long weekend looms as an important juncture in the race for semifinals berths this year.
Marist will be the target for both Hikurangi and Hora Hora who are both locked in a battle with Kamo, Mid Northern and Wellsford for top four places.
Tonight Mid Northern host Waipu at Hukerenui and Hora Hora head to Dargaville to play the Western Sharks. Tomorrow Old Boys host Kamo, Wellsford play Mid Western at Maungakaramea and Marist meet Hikurangi.
On Monday Kamo host the Sharks, Mid Northern heads to Wellsford, Hikurangi meet Mid Western, Hora Hora play Marist and Waipu and Old Boys clash in a bottom of the table wrestle.