Huxley cleared for BOP clash

1.00pm

Star Australian import Julian Huxley has been declared fit to play despite battling a knee injury that threatened to sideline him for Northland's NPC rugby fixture against Bay of Plenty on Saturday.

Huxley had limited training time yesterday and was unable to participate earlier this week after a knee collision during Sunday's loss to North Harbour.

But he was fit enough to complete the team run yesterday afternoon and was named in the starting line-up to meet Bay of Plenty on Saturday.

Northland coach Bruce Hodder has stuck with the same backline and is considering just one adjustment to the forward pack that started last week.

Stan Wright and Ryan Wederall are battling for a start at tighthead prop and Hodder will leave the final decision until late tomorrow.

Hooker Simon Lemalu was also on light duties only yesterday with a shoulder strain but is expected to be cleared to fill his spot on the bench.

The only significant changes are on the bench where prop Craig West has been ruled out with a leg injury while Josh Levi is bracketed with Aaron Baigent.

Levi is also doubtful through injury. Either Wederall or Wright will start from the bench in place of West.

Keen to eliminate some defensive lapses that cost Northland dearly in the final moments on Sunday, Hodder said the focus this week had been on organising tacklers at rucks and mauls.

"Organisation of phase plays and option taking is really what we have been looking at," Hodder said.

"We need to make sure we are playing the game that suits us and don't get sucked into doing things just because other people are doing them," he said.

"We need to focus on what Northland is good at."

Hodder said the whole squad was acutely aware of how well Bay of Plenty had played this season and were preparing for another stiff test.

But he was sure Northland had the players to meet the Bay of Plenty challenge.

"They are not too different in personnel than three years ago when they played promotion-relegation.

But I guess they are a good example of getting some wins, building some confidence and then they have just kept building on that."

An interested spectator at Northland training yesterday was sports psychologist Dave Hadfield, who is spending time with the team until Saturday.

Hodder said he had invited Hadfield, who had worked with the squad pre-season, to take a close look at all aspects of the team.

"I invited him back to get an outside view on how things are operating," Hodder said.

Northland: Jared Going (captain), Fero Lasagavibau, Hayden Taylor, Thomas Toailoa, Matt Faleuka, Julian Huxley, John Senio, Jake Paringatai, Luke Ottley, Maseke Davu, Brad Taylor, Mike von Dincklage, Bronson Murray, Tim Dow, Ryan Wederall/ Stan Wright.

Reserves: Simon Lemalu, Wederall/ Wright, Tim Henwood, Aaron Wright, Rhyan Caine, Manu Burkhardt-Macrae, Aaron Baigent/Josh Levi.

- NORTHERN ADVOCATE (WHANGAREI)

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