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KEY POINTS:
David Leggatt explains why some teams are pitching their ABs straight in, while others will see action only from the bench
Blues
In stark contrast to the Crusaders, coach David Nucifora has opted to stick with what has worked for him so far in the campaign.
Hooker Keven Mealamu is on the bench; lock Ali Williams and loosehead prop Tony Woodcock are playing club rugby tomorrow. Wing Joe Rokocoko is out with an ankle injury. It is possible that even Mealamu might have been playing for his Otahuhu club had prop Saimone Taumoepeau been fit. Taumoepeau has been regular hooking backup to first-choice Derren Witcombe.
Woodcock had a leg injury which counted him out of last week's Blues-Chiefs wider training group practice match and that probably didn't help his chances of playing tonight.
Nucifora's view is understandable. The Blues sit second on the table, a position achieved without the four All Blacks. The players who had done the hard staff deserved the chance to carry on their fine work against the Waratahs tonight.
However, here's a possible dilemma. What say they keep winning, keep playing resoundingly good football. When does Nucifora bring them back? Does he? Should he? There's an old saying about things which aren't broken.
But a counter argument might go that the Waratahs, who have been dreadful this season and sit second last, are the perfect time to reintroduce players who are itching to play rugby after spending the last couple of months preparing for their return.
Next week, the Blues play the Chiefs in Hamilton, which is likely to be a sterner test for Nucifora's men than the awful Aussies tonight.
Chiefs
Ian Foster's hopes of having his three All Blacks run out at Suncorp Stadium tomorrow night were dashed last week.
Mils Muliaina's broken bone in a foot stymied that, and despite his optimism, most likely sidelines the versatile 26-year-old for the rest of the Super 14. That leaves halfback Byron Kelleher and wing Sitiveni Sivivatuto return against the Reds. With Jamie Nutbrown gone for the rest of the campaign with a torn bicep tendon in his right elbow, Kelleher will join the impressive Brendon Leonard in vying for the No 9 job.
Leonard had a fine Air New Zealand Cup with Waikato last year and he is one of the most promising halfbacks in the country. But Kelleher is not the All Black encumbent for nothing and showed in last week's practice match against the Blues that he's busting to get back into work.
The Chiefs have been well served by their wings in recent weeks. Both Lelia Masaga, who has scored four tries, and Roy Kinikinilau, have been good value, mixing pace with brawn to appeal as one of the best wing pairings in the Super 14. Sivivatu's reputation is that he needs a game or two to hit top gear, so best throw him in ASAP. Tough on Masaga, but that's life.
Hurricanes
Coach Colin Cooper has wasted no time; his six All Blacks are straight back into the starting XV to play the Lions in Johannesburg on Sunday. It's easy to understand why. Take a look at the points table. Things had begun reasonably well - three wins in their first four games - but they'll run out on Sunday aiming to avoid a fourth straight loss and lying 10th on the ladder.
Their returnees are all pack men, apart from halfback Piri Weepu, and there is potential for a rapid shift in fortunes.
The Hurricanes will field an all-new loose forward trio - Rodney So'oialo, the formidable Jerry Collins and Chris Masoe. The mind boggles at how workaholic Collins has coped with no football this year.
Lock Jason Eaton, reputedly 8kg heavier, will be back with hooker Andrew Hore.
In the Hurricanes' case, there is no need to debate the merits of a gradual return, a drip-feed philosophy.
They need wins, and smartly. Four of their last five games are at home, but they still have the bye to sit out.
Crusaders
Six for six. That's what coach Robbie Deans has chosen to do with his newly buffed up All Blacks. The defending champions had seven players pencilled in for retuning, but prop Greg Somerville's busted achilles - suffered during the Tri-Nations test against South Africa at Rustenburg last September - has played havoc with his World Cup ambitions.
In one respect, it is a shame all six are back. Deans has a collection of fine young footballers at his disposal. Another couple of weeks, assessing their development, wouldn't hurt - and as their next two opponents are two of the less formidable teams, the Stormers and the Waratahs, the Crusaders should have been able to win both in their stride without the kingpins.
Then again ... first five-eighths Stephen Brett is a richly gifted young player, but Dan Carter is five-star class.
Loose forwards Kieran Read and Michael Patterson are tipped for higher things at their current rate of progress, but, from last weekend, Reuben Thorne and Chris Jack beef up the pack. Richie McCaw in for Johnny Leo'o? Due credit to the industrious Leo'o, it's a no-brainer.
Aaron Mauger and Leon MacDonald back for Caleb Ralph and the slick-running Tim Bateman? No arguments here. Deans' view is that the best way to get his guns up to speed is throw them straight back into the fray.
Highlanders
Two All Blacks are back this weekend in the far south. But coach Greg Cooper has opted to start both tighthead rock Carl Hayman and hooker Anton Oliver (pictured below) from the bench against the Bulls.
There is a strong case to have put them straight back in. The Bulls are among the more formidable packs in the Super 14, and they pride themselves on the more rugged close quarter stuff. The Bulls will field test locks Victor Matfield and Bakkies Botha and a muscular front row of Rayno Gerber, Gurthro Steenkamp and hooker Gary Botha.
Cooper has stuck with hardworking Chris King at tighthead, and Jason McDonald starts at hooker. While King is strictly journeyman class and Hayman is rated the world's best No 3, McDonald has had a fine campaign. His work with lock James Ryan at the lineouts has been impressive. Hayman and Oliver are expected to get plenty of game time, perhaps as much as half a game, and a glance at the points table adds to the puzzle of why they're not running out on to Carisbrook.
The Highlanders lie seventh on 16 points, the Bulls are fourth on 18. Things are tight. Eight teams are covered by four points, from fourth to 11th. The Highlanders are in the second of a five-game home run tomorrow. They'll want to make certain home advantage count.
