Hawkes Bay keen to avoid blotting copybook

Hawkes Bay cannot be displaced at the top of the second division table, but are likely to be on their guard heading into final round-robin matches today.

The only team with a perfect record in the division, Hawkes Bay are likely to have few problems dispatching third division-bound King Country.

The Bay, however, will be conscious of a similar scenario last year, when they lost to the bottom-placed team in the final round-robin match.

"The boys have won seven on the trot," Hawkes Bay coach Mark Shaw said yesterday. "It would be counter-productive if we dropped our guard at this stage and didn't perform."

Hawkes Bay have several injury worries, but one of their strengths this year has been the depth of their bench and Shaw was confident "we'll put out a side on Saturday good enough to make King Country's season a misery."

King Country's drop to the third division for the first time was confirmed last weekend when they lost their seventh successive match.

Mid-Canterbury and Wanganui face a crucial battle to avoid going down with King Country. Two teams will be relegated this year and none promoted.

Mid-Canterbury have two wins and a draw compared to Wanganui's solitary success, and the southerners also have the home advantage, playing at Ashburton.

One down-side for Mid-Canterbury is they are coming off a bye, and coach Nigel Marshall admitted that having last weekend off was not ideal preparation.

Mid-Canterbury last played in the third division in 1998 and Wanganui in 1996.

A "blue army" of supporters will invade Palmerston North as East Coast attempt to cement their spot as second qualifiers against Manawatu.

Having a dream debut season in the second division, East Coast manager Val Morrison said the team had received a timely wake-up call after their narrow loss at home to Nelson Bays last weekend.

"If there was any complacency or cockiness creeping in, that's certainly blown it out," he said.

Just two points separate East Coast and Manawatu, who occupy second and third places respectively heading into the last round.

Nelson Bays can seal a top-four spot with a win over an improving Thames Valley, but will have to do without both their specialist first five-eighths. Warren Johnstone and Chris Finch are on the injured list.

In the third division, Wairarapa Bush have a chance of jumping into the top four at the expense of Buller.

Wairarapa-Bush need to beat Horowhenua Kapiti away and hope that Buller go down at home to leaders North Otago.

North Otago are assured of a playoff spot, with South Canterbury (home to bottom-placed West Coast) and Poverty Bay (the bye) likely to join them.

- NZPA