North needs taniwha spirit

A quick glance at the team sheets indicates what sort of ride Northland will be in for during tonight's Ranfurly Shield challenge against Canterbury.

Apart from reserve lock Kevin O'Neill, all of the Canterbury NPC team have played in this year's Super 12.

For Northland, only Queensland Reds first five-eighth Julian Huxley was involved in the competition and injury meant he got very little game time.

When professionals collide with amateurs, the outcome often is not pretty and there could be plenty of carnage in Northland's corner at Jade Stadium.

There are also several other variables to factor in when considering Northland's chances tonight.

Huxley has not trained all week because of a mystery virus and, although named to start, there is a likelihood he will miss it.

Coach Bruce Hodder will give him as much time as possible but if scratched, captain Jared Going will be pushed forward from fullback.

There is no doubting Northland will be playing for that old motivator "pride", but that in itself won't be enough for them to haul the shield north to Whangarei.

Adding to their problems, Canterbury will be hungry to succeed.

They must secure a win and four tries to snare maximum competition points and keep their home semifinal chances alive.

Canterbury coach Aussie McLean will also be seeking a continuation of the standards set in his side's recent wins over Auckland and Waikato as he eyes the NPC title.

Hodder was concerned about his team's scrummaging after their 12-65 loss to Wellington last week and brought in All Blacks scrum doctor Mike Cron to give his diagnosis on the set piece.

Even with Canterbury making five positional changes, which includes bringing Aaron Mauger into first five-eighth for the first time in the NPC, they should out-gun the visitors across the paddock.

Hodder lamented that a lack of concentration had cost his side at crucial times this season but ruefully noted he couldn't expect his men to maintain the pressure against hardened professionals.

"We are not like some players who are conditioned to playing in the Super 12," Hodder said.

"That lack of experience tells against some of these other sides."

While a side such as Canterbury have full-time professionals on their roster, Northland's players, who are paid a retainer by the New Zealand Rugby Union, have to fit jobs in around trainings.

They train several times a week, which includes taking Wednesdays off work.

The last time Northland challenged for the shield they ran Canterbury close before losing 22-28.

Northland racked up four wins that season but haven't won an NPC match since October 13, 2002, when they beat Southland 27-20 in Invercargill.

There appears little chance of the drought being broken tonight.

- NZPA

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