KEY POINTS:
Rising Australian star Simon Orchard will line up for North Harbour in their crucial National Hockey League game against Midlands at Pukekohe this morning.
Harbour coach Brent Edwards looked across the Tasman to find a replacement for Black Sticks inside-forward Ben Collier, who faces four to six weeks on the sideline after injuring his sternum in a collision with his New Zealand teammate Dean Couzins in last Sunday's loss to Auckland.
Orchard, 21, has played for Australia under-21, is a member of their development squad and has made the Kookaburras for their five-test tour of South Africa in January.
"It is a straight swap," said Edwards. "We thought we might get by with the players we have but with Bryce Collins also struggling we were forced to call in a replacement."
Collins, who is wrestling with a number of injuries, will play today's match but will not travel with the team this afternoon for the game against Southern in Dunedin tomorrow.
The Pukekohe clash is vital for both teams in their chase for a place in Friday's semifinals.
Midlands, with former North Harbour coach Darren Smith as their player-coach, are in fourth place after four rounds but face a testing double-header this weekend with today's game followed by an away game against second-placed Canterbury, who play bottom-placed Central in Palmerston North today.
"If we concentrate on playing well we could do all right," said Smith. "I would love to get something out of both games but know it won't be easy."
Harbour's loss to Auckland opened up the top four race with Auckland, trailing Harbour and Canterbury only on goal difference, poised to make a charge this weekend with a home game against Northland followed by the trip to Palmerston North tomorrow.
The Northland women have not been big scorers in their first four games but they have fashioned a perfect record to lead by three points from Wellington. They should retain that advantage, and ensure their top four spot, with similar efforts against Auckland (away) and Wellington (home) this weekend.
Wellington had a mixed weekend with a surprise loss to Central followed by a convincing 5-1 effort against Canterbury and will need more of what they showed in that game to test the no-nonsense Northlanders.
Harbour dropped points to Northland and Auckland last weekend to fall back to third and will be looking for better against Midlands today and Southern tomorrow.
