KEY POINTS:
Home advantage in a rematch in two weeks is the likely prize when Waikato and Hawkes Bay clash in today's twilight kickoff in Napier.
If games go to form over the final two weeks the two sides are likely to finish fourth and fifth and face each other in a quarter-final. Whether it is the defending champions or the competition upstarts who hold home advantage for that clash depends on this evening's encounter.
"That is essentially what we are playing for here," Waikato captain Tom Willis said. "We are under no illusions as to how hard it is going to be but we are also particularly conscious of its importance. If we are fortunate enough to make the quarter-finals, I'd rather the game be at home."
The Magpies will share similar sentiments and, despite being $3 outsiders at the TAB, they might just have the upper hand. Waikato have looked vulnerable whenever pivot Stephen Donald has been out of the team and their depth in the halves will be even further tested by the absence of first choice halfback David Bason.
William Ripia, Donald's understudy, had his best game of the season last week against Wellington but was as culpable as any in Waikato's poor defensive showing.
That heavy defeat by Wellington saw Waikato slip out of the top four but they have another chance today to bounce straight back into the four. "It is a second bite of the cherry and I don't think we'll get a third if we muck this one up," Willis said. "We were disappointed with the way we played individually and collectively against Wellington. I don't think there was anything wrong with our defensive system. It was really just one-on-one missed tackles.
"We have an analysis session and there was a bit of finger pointing and a bit of honesty. We had a look at the mistakes we made but also focused on what we were good at."
But if any team has played with attitude this season it has been the Magpies, who have already seen off Wellington, North Harbour and Northland.
Hawkes Bay have named what is close to their strongest side, with former Wellington and Hurricanes prop Tim Fairbrother brought in to bolster the scrum. And they have bracketed impressive fullback Ben Batger with Justin Wilson.
* Harbour will be looking to breathe life into an ailing season when they take on second-from-bottom Bay of Plenty in Albany tonight.
A bonus-point victory would see Harbour draw level on points with eighth-placed Taranaki, who were hammered by Wellington on Thursday night.
Harbour would then need to win at home against Southland next week and hope other results go their way if they are to claim an unlikely playoff spot.
A victory to Bay of Plenty could condemn Counties Manukau to the wooden spoon with a week remaining in the regular season.
To avoid that fate, Counties will need to beat Northland in Whangarei tomorrow.
A victory to Northland in that match would keep their slim playoff hopes alive heading into the final round.
The Games
Hawkes Bay v Waikato
Napier, 5.30 today
North Harbour v Bay of Plenty
Albany, 7.35 tonight
