League: Bruised combatants look for fast, dry conditions

Let's hope the weather does not impact on the Bartercard Cup and Fox memorial finals at Ericsson Stadium tomorrow.

Both Bartercard contestants Mt Albert and Canterbury like playing fast on hard grounds. Rain would reduce the game to something more like last Sunday's semifinal between Mt Albert and Counties-Manukau, where skilful play was tempered with safety-first options and the ball movement reduced.

The Lions are still bruised from that encounter but coach Brian McClennan was singing out a warning: "Beware the wounded Lion."

McClennan would take 20 players to the ground tomorrow and "the ones who are fittest and keenest will take the field".

If the weather was bad "we'll do what we have to do". But preference was not for a grinding game against the bigger Bulls. Canterbury coach Phil Prescott felt the Bulls were settled. "Everyone is fit and raring to go, we have no problems," Prescott said. That included playing away in Auckland.

Papakura and Manurewa play the Fox Memorial Auckland division one final at 12.30pm.

* Bartercard Cup Final
Ericsson Stadium, 2.40pm tomorrow

Mt Albert

Patrick Ah Van or Andreas Bauer, Adam Ellwood, Harry Aonga or Robinson Godfrey, Paul Fisi'iahi, Rowan Baxter, Steve Buckingham, Bernard Perenara, Sione Pouha or Jeff Todd, Fale Talaepa, Phil Shead, Fabian Souter, Jeff Todd or Eddie Leuluai, Willie Sorenson, Daniel O'Regan, Regan Wigg, Matthew Asoau, Sene Pati.

Canterbury

Kaine Manihera, Lucas Tamakaha, Daniel Metcalf, Chris Newton, James Ward, James O'Brien, Quincy To'o To'o-Ulugia, Vince Whare, Shane Beyers (captain), Alex Timo, Shane Tamatea, Peter Asi, Corey Lawrie, Sam Wallace, Ross Turi, George Taunga, Taylor Pelenise,