History not part of Bays' buildup

1.00pm

Northland have become promotion-relegation specialists and - ominously for Nelson Bays - winning ones.

Northland have beaten Hawke's Bay in the previous two matches -- including last season's 66-12 hammering in Napier.

It's a result that's probably been ringing in the Nelson Bays players' ears this week -- not from the coaching staff but from the media, who believe the gulf between first and second division is still too much of a hurdle.

Nelson Bays coach Wayne Love said Northland's big win last year hasn't been part of this week's considerations.

"We've ignored it altogether. It's a different proposition this year," he said.

"You might reflect back but that's about all you do. You've got to look forward, that's the important thing, and focus on what we've been doing and how we've been achieving it and what we've got to do in this game basically."

Love has taken a softly-softly approach with his squad since beating Hawke's Bay in last Saturday's second division NPC final.

After playing Hawke's Bay twice and North Otago over three consecutive weeks, the players have endured plenty of physical punishment.

Conversely, Northland haven't played since losing 68-19 to Canterbury two weeks ago and will be well rested.

"In any game you've got to get control up front before you can execute your patterns," Love said.

"You've got to create some go-forward. Other than that it's nothing different. There are a few areas that we're looking to control and we need to make sure that we execute those well."

While Nelson Bays' forwards compare favourably in bulk, it is Northland's added lineout height that could prove problematic.

Northland have a significant and valuable asset in their 2.05m-tall lock Brad Taylor and in light of Nelson Bays' scruffy first-half lineout efforts against Hawke's Bay last week, it is an area where Northland will be looking to establish a critical edge.

That Nelson Bays were able to quickly fix those problems during the second half said a lot for the team's composure. But they will need to play smart tomorrow.

Love will field the same squad that ended Hawke's Bay's three-year second division reign last Saturday, with Tere Wycliff again starting at lock ahead of Patrick Finau.

Karl Leary's impressive efforts over the past two weeks also give him the nod ahead of Callum Taylor at blindside flanker.

Northland have been experiencing selection issues of their own, with Queensland Super 12 player Julian Huxley ultimately getting the clearance to play during the week.

However, the first five-eighth will have a new halfback operating inside him after regular starter John Senio was ruled out for six weeks with a fractured eye socket. Rhyan Caine, who scored two sniping tries against Canterbury, takes his place.

Nelson Bays will also be wary of Northland's fleet-footed Fijian winger Fero Lasagavibau. After chasing the likes of Hawke's Bay's Karl Mudzamba and Nasoni Rokobiau around Trafalgar Park over the past few weeks, Nelson Bays face a similar threat from the Fijian flier.

In fact, speed is likely to be a dominating theme in tomorrow's encounter -- not just the attacking threat posed by the players, but the up-tempo first division mentality that Northland have been exposed to all season.

"It's an unknown thing to be honest and the first half will be critical, there's no question about that," said Love.

"And if we're in it at that stage, then I think it will be very interesting."

Nelson Bays: Isikeli Ratulevu, Lucky Mulipola, Aaron Kimura, Jack Kelly, Ali Durrant, Tim Taylor, James King, Kahu Marfell, Mark Bright, Karl Leary, Brian Dineen, Tere Wycliff, Gavin Briggs (captain), Dillin Clark, Ben May. Substitutes: Sakaria Taulafo, Shane Parata, Patrick Finau, Callum Taylor, Kahn Fotualii, Ross Soper, Rudolf Meredith.

Northland: Jared Going (captain), Fero Lasagavibau, Manu Burkhardt-McRae, Hayden Taylor, Matt Faleuka, Julian Huxley, Rhyan Caine, Jake Paringatai, Aaron Wright, Mesake Davu, Brad Taylor, Tim Henwood, Ryan Wederell, Tim Dow, Bronson Murray. Substitutes: Simon Lemalu, Stan Wright, Mike Von Dincklage, Luke Ottley, Steven Moore, Thomas Toailoa, Josh Levi.

- NZPA

* Reports on nzherald.co.nz/rugby throughout the weekend

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