Loss of star wing a blow to capital's hopes against leaders

All Black Jonah Lomu is out of the Wellington team to play Waikato at the Cake Tin tonight after hurting a knee against North Harbour last week.

The injury has stopped him from training this week and his place has gone to Samoan international Lome Fa'atau.

His is the only change to the team that started against North Harbour, though coach Dave Rennie seriously considered bringing Ma'a Nonu in at centre and shifting All Blacks centre Tana Umaga to second five-eighths and former All Black Pita Alatini to the bench.

He plumped for the Alatini-Umaga double act because of their experience on defence, ahead of Nonu's potential with the ball in hand.

Wellington expect first-division leaders Waikato to move the ball wide and Rennie is anxious that the midfielders are not caught covering the inside channels when the action is further out.

Lomu's absence takes away some potential for the X-factor to come into the game, though the big wing has struggled to find the try-line this year. He has scored just three - one each for the Hurricanes, All Blacks and Wellington.

Despite that, his game against North Harbour last week was one of his best for some time, and he often rises to big occasions.

The Wellington pack is unchanged, even though winning ball off North Harbour was a struggle. They have been rewarded for strong defensive work in an awkward second 40 minutes at Albany Stadium.

North Harbour and Northland both tried to out-maul Wellington and use pick-and-go runners to break the defence, but managed to score only one try each.

While the Wellington combinations are settled, Waikato coach Ian Foster has made four changes to the team who beat Canterbury 59-41 last week, including three to the pack that was so convincing against a virtual All Blacks unit.

The trick for Waikato will be maintaining the standards they set for themselves against the defending champions.

Wellington: Christian Cullen, Lome Fa'atau, Tana Umaga (capt), Pita Alatini, Brad Fleming, Riki Flutey, Jason Spice, Rodney So'oialo, Kupu Vanisi, Thomas Waldrom, Dion Waller, Ross Kennedy, Tim Fairbrother, Shane Carter, Kas Lealamanua. Res: Ma'a Nonu, Paul Steinmetz, David Holwell, Hemi Pou, Kane Thompson, John Pale, Luke Mahoney.

Waikato: Loki Crichton, Roger Randle, Regan King, Keith Lowen, Bruce Reihana, Derek Maisey, Rhys Duggan, Deon Muir (capt), Marty Holah, Steve Bates, Keith Robinson, Royce Willis, Tony Philp, Greg Smith, Michael Collins. Res: Matt Priscott, David Hill, Duncan Jamieson, Scott Couch, Jono Gibbes, Deacon Manu, Scott Linklater.

Referee: Glenn Wahlstrom (Auckland). Kickoff: 7.35pm.

- NZPA